Major Oak looking well

[Agent-Arb]

Went to Sherwood Forest last weekend. Been freshly mulched, and halo'd - coppard stumps at front of first pic. Fence round keeps compaction minimal. Couldn't see much die back at all. Good to see it in rude health, for such an old tree. Been lavished with care through the years it has. I did hear recently that mulching may not be the best thing for an old tree as it could promote too much vigorous growth, when really at this age it just needs to 'tick over'. Any other schools of thought?

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Looks dead

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oops, wrong time of year

[nepia]

I'm going to show the top pic to clients who say 'well I suppose some woodchip just a couple of feet out from the trunk would be OK'!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

that must have been done very recently. This tree certainly gets a lot of good care, such a shame we dont have the resources to look after more so well

[David Humphries]

Would be interesting to know what the surrounding woodland cover was like at the time that this late 1700's drawing was made by the 'Major' who it's named after.

 

Looks clear, but guess that what ever was there got left out to enhance the subject

 

 

 

I haven't visited it for a decade or so, any idea what species of chip has been used Mr Agent-Arb?

 

 

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[Agent-Arb]

There's a lot of good work going on in the woods there generally, nice to see care, attention & funding given to places. Not sure on the chip species TBH Mr H, may have been specific species brought in & tipped there(roseaceae?) or simply whatever was at hand. It did look fresh within a week or so tho.

Like the artwork, the secondary regen could have been left out at the time. Interesting to see it looks like it had lost its leader even then & shows today a great amount of lower growth/retrenchment. Good find too.

Great day today, busy doing other things myself but thought it might inspire a trip out for folk.

This clamping - not sure what to call it - was worth a pic as well.

 

 

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[woodyguy]

David, an albumin print in 1890 ie a photo not a drawing, shows a typical thin birch wood around it with very big gaps between the bigger trees. Looks like the older oaks were there but without any larger oaks between. Very different to how it is now.

[NoRush]

Its a shame that they don't look after the original brambly apple tree like the major oak and its alot smaller