Podcast project captures sound of famous Major Oak

Highly sensitive microphones were used to hear the mighty oak's sounds

Producers of a Nottinghamshire podcast have recorded the internal sounds of an ancient oak tree for the first time.

The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is said to be associated with the Robin Hood legend and is about 1,000 years old.

Creators of the Voices of Sherwood Forest podcast have featured the tree in a series exploring people and nature in the area.

They used highly sensitive microphones to hear the mighty oak's sounds for the first time in history.

The podcast has been produced by the Miner2Major landscape scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sounds of the Major Oak were recorded by artist Alex Metcalf as part of his Tree Listening project.

Helen Mitchem is the podcast's main producer, and she says her "love for trees" inspired her to include one in the series.

Sensitive microphones were used to detect the tree's internal movements.

There is a "popping" sound when water mixes with air in the xylem, which is the tissue that transports water from the roots to the leaves.

Ms Mitchem said: "I'm a big tree hugger, and I wanted to do something to connect people with them.

"When we listened to the Major Oak tree, it was quite emotional. Hearing the voice of one of the most iconic trees in Nottinghamshire was amazing."

Producers said this marked the first "interview" that has been done with the Major Oak.

Recording the sound of the Major Oak, which is about 1,000 years old

Rob James, a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which looks after the Sherwood Forest Nature Reserve, also joined in with the discussion.

He said: "Hearing the tree is a reminder that after a thousand years, it is still a true living icon of nature.”

You can listen to the podcast, Voices from Sherwood Forest, on Spotify.

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