Nottingham element: Major Oak
Sherwood Forest, a 450-acre nature reserve, is home to the well-loved veteran oak tree the Major Oak, which is known throughout the world for its connection to Nottinghamshire’s legendary hero Robin Hood.
Sherwood Forest is located near the village of Edwinstowe in north Nottinghamshire, and the large English oak is thought to be between 800 and 1,000 years old. Legend has it that the ancient oak not only provided Robin Hood with shelter, it was also the place where he and his Merry Men slept.
The tree has been crowned England’s Tree of the Year in a public vote run by the Woodland Trust. It weighs an estimated 23 tonnes, has a girth of 10 metres (33ft) and a spread of 28 metres (92ft) making it the biggest oak tree in Britain.
Scientific element: Molybdenum
This transition metal is a hard, silvery coloured element that was often confused with graphite.
Carl Wilhelm Scheele of Sweden discovered molybdenum in 1781.
He was experimenting with molybdenite ore, which was always believed to contain lead.
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