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4w ago

Major Oak’s Survival Threatened by Record Heat and Prolonged Drought

Under Chloe Ryder’s direction, RSPB teams rely on soil moisture data for daily watering to support a root-restoration programme in the UK’s driest June on record.

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Folklore says that Robin Hood and his Merry Men used to shelter under this tree, which is now struggling in the warmer weather

Overview

  • Weeks without significant rainfall and a record-breaking June temperature have brought the Major Oak to the brink of life-threatening drought.
  • RSPB teams led by Chloe Ryder now use soil moisture sensors to target daily watering and keep the tree’s root zone hydrated.
  • Conservationists are loosening compacted earth around the 1,000-year-old oak and adding organic forest debris to improve soil structure and nutrient availability.
  • A felled young oak has been positioned within the fenced enclosure to decompose and release vital nutrients that fuel root recovery.
  • Experts caution that recurring extreme weather events linked to climate change threaten the long-term survival of Britain’s most celebrated ancient oak.