Long before Robin Hood was anything to do with Cryptocurrency and trading he was an outlaw romanticised as the good guy who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Opinions vary on who exactly who he was and where "Robin of Loxley" actually came from and whether the legend has any relevance to the truth. With his archenemy being the Sheriff of Nottingham most of the legend revolves around that and the surrounding Sherwood Forest (hence the 80s Robin of Sherwood Series).
Sherwood Forest is still there, but is nowhere near as big as it was during the medieval period. At that time it even stretched as far as my hometown of Lincoln and so, assuming the historical person actually existing, it is likely that he visited Lincoln and let's not forget that he was known for wearing Lincoln Green. In the midst of the forest was the Major Oak and legend had it that, given its hollow trunk, it was a favoured hiding place for him and his Merry Men. Being no more than an hour's drive away from where I lived I visited from time to time.
In latter years, the grand old lady of the forest was cordoned off and a number of wooden struts supported her ancient bows. This was not what was happening when I was a child. Children including me, often played in her protective embrace and hid, just like Robin Hood, inside her inner sanctuary.
Can you imagine how cool that was to actually play and follow in the actual footsteps of one of England's greatest legends!
I know that every time i have shared this with an American in particular they have been blown away. That is what history and heritage does for your sense of identity. Yesterday I was saddened to hear the terrible news the Major Oak is almost certainly dead. Conservationists had worked tirelessly to protect the tree, which attracted millions of visitors over its life, but in recent years the natural giant was in decline and even the most casual of glances showed that this was plain to see.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the conservation charity, who are responsible for nature reserve part of the historic forest which the iconic tree is a part of, have said that this year is the first spring when no new leaves have sprouted and thus scientific experts believed the Major Oak has died. While it was difficult to determine the exact cause of the oak's demise, the RSPB have reportedly said that a combination of issues, including years of "well-intentioned structural intervention and huge amounts of human activity" around the tree, were thought to be "major contributors".
Which is polite speak for saying that I contributed to her death.
I guess it is just another sign of time passing and another part of my childhood gone forever. So with a heaviness of heart today my friends I wish you, as always to stay safe and well.
