England Losing Ancient Oaks to Heat and Drought
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- The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, estimated at 800 to 1,200 years old and perhaps England's most famous tree, died in June, with conservationists citing a combination of climate change and over-tourism.
- The Crow Leasow Oak in Shropshire, estimated at about 1,000 years old, has withered nearly to death since 2018, with only a single living bough remaining, according to homeowner Sally Kellard.
- Up to 3,500 ancient oaks in England are more than 600 years old, according to Woodland Trust conservation adviser Ed Pyne.
- England is losing one or two ancient trees like these per year, Dr. Pyne said — a pace conservationists describe as escalating.
- The trees have been suffering in sweltering temperatures and consecutive years of drought, according to the Woodland Trust, and hold a significant place in English history, culture, and imagination.
Why it matters: England is losing one to two ancient oaks per year to a combination of extreme heat, drought, and over-tourism, according to the Woodland Trust. With up to 3,500 trees older than 600 years still standing, each loss erases a living piece of English cultural heritage that conservationists say cannot be replaced — and the pace appears to be accelerating.
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