General · 18 August 2026
Droughts and extreme summer heat are killing England's oldest oak trees
Staffordshire Clive via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
The Woodland Trust warns that half of the country's ancient oaks could die out within the next six decades. Sherwood Forest alone lost eight massive oaks across 2024 and 2025, while conservationists are monitoring seven others fighting for survival across England and Wales. The severe lack of moisture stops root systems from absorbing vital nutrients, forcing them to shed their leaves early.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs