Tree successor to Major Oak confirmed to have been planted at Green Heart

A general view of the Green Heart at the site of the former Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham city centre just before work was completed, with fence visible on left and young oak tree visible in foreground next to middle path
-Credit: (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)


Nottingham City Council has confirmed that a baby oak tree - an homage to Sherwood Forest's famous Major Oak - has been planted at the new Green Heart in Nottingham city centre. The tree, which the council says is situated on entrance to the public space, near Lister Gate, has its own designated spot between decorative sandstone ornaments.

The idea to honour the Major Oak - the biggest oak tree in Britain, aged between 800 and 1000 years old - was initially suggested during a consultation held by the council, as part of plans to regenerate the Broad Marsh area after it was handed back to the council by Intu, who owned the old shopping centre. The consultation was chaired by Greg Nugent of The Nottingham Project - a scheme to rejuvenate the city after the pandemic.

In December 2021, the vision for the new Broad Marsh area was revealed for the first time. It was when the idea of a "Green Heart" was first mentioned.

At the time, Mr Nugent told Nottinghamshire Live: "We want to take, ideally, an acorn from Sherwood Forest, ideally the Major Oak, and plant it beautifully in the middle of the city and we want to be known as a young city, a vibrant city, and this is perfectly symbolic of the middle of this."

It is unclear whether the Green Heart's oak is a descendent of the Major Oak. But it certainly isn't a baby - with expert Erin McDaid, from the Wildlife Trust, estimating the towering tree is probably 8-10 years old already.

Oak trees grow approximately 50cm - nearly two feet - per year. The ancient Major Oak relies on metal structures and supports for its wellbeing - but the Baby Oak is in its inaugural days.

It should reach its full size in around 40 years time. By then, the Broad Marsh redevelopment will be well completed, and Nottingham may have even changed much further beyond recognition from what it is today.