Meeting The Major Oak - Britain's largest Oak tree

The Major Oak is the largest oak tree in Britain and is believed to be between 800 and 1,000 years old. Join me on a walk to meet and sketch this incredible specimen deep within the famous Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire.

It’s absolutely mind blowing to think that sometime between the reign of King Canute, and the signing of the Magna Carta, one small acorn was taking root - and is still here cycling carbon.

I'm still not convinced the camera does the sheer size and presence of it justice but hopefully I can do so with my paintbrush down the line...

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see the finished artwork:

Video & images by Sarah Clack and on licence from Shutterstock. Historical images are not my own.

Music:
Sequence by Grayson DeSmet
Lord of the Forest by Klimenko Music

#stayinspired

[christinebenjamin-young]

As a kid in the late 50's and into the 60's we often visited Sherwood Forest regularly as my Gran lived nearby in Ollerton. We would usually be playing games around and in it climbing inside and up the lower branches, but there was nothing like the visitor numbers of more recent times.

[martineleven]

As a child I actually walked inside this tree. Absolutely fascinating. Someone tried to set fire to it in time, now you can't even go near to it. I now live in East Sussex in Beckley and one thing I've noticed is that English Oak trees seem to grow like bonkers here, they seem to like the clay based soils. Just an observation.

[PSMITHjl]

Meeting this majestic tree is on my bucket list!

[dodgeboy]

Hello from the Antipodes..i have a oil on canvas painting 85X55 cm. of the Major. 1898 bt W.O trivitt.. I bought it to Australia nr.. 50 yers ago..i have just had varnish removal and cleaned.. looking majestic as ever...Me and my mates use to visit the Major in the early 60s.. i am a Hyson Green lad Nottingham... hi from Australia....

[JIMcLauchlan]

Great video & very informative Sherwood forest is a beautiful place to take in the nature and wildlife i love walks around there with the kids ❤

[kyritix]

I live near Sherwood forest and when I was a kid I had the opportunity to go inside it. I still have some acorns from it!

[JBNat]

Lovely video! Pleasantly surprised by YouTube recommending this one 😊

[nelsonx]

Wow, that drawing of the tree she did was super cool.

[YoJimBoHugabaJoe]

I remember when I was a kid and you were allowed to climb and play on the thing

[Bastillius]

What's really amazing is however big it is above ground, it's twice as big underground

[thagemizer]

You should take a trip to Vancouver Island. We have some big trees, Douglas Firs, in Cathedral Grove and Avatar Grove, that approach 1000 years of age and 70-80 meters in height. We visited a few years ago, and it was so awe inspiring to see those beautiful giants.

[Onionbaron]

Those majestic ancients, I am but a fly on a leaf that was felled an autumn night, one night of so many thousands...

[AllSeriousSubjects]

Thank you Mr. Algorithm for knowing me better than I know myself.

[paulsawczyc]

That's a worthy specimen to gather some of it's acorns and plant them - it's got the long life genes.

[mnp]

Denmarks oldes oak is around 1500 years but this one is more beautiful

[johnadamski]

🌲🌳🍀🐾🦉🦝🐿🦊🦌Dear Inspired4nature, I like your attitude towards the Forest's of the world🦌🦊🐿🦝🦉🐾🍀🌳🌲.

[dennisgannon]

I hope the damaged areas were treated/repaired...