13th August 2025

The spiky fruits of the Horse Chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) containing the much loved 'conker', the seed. The game of conkers was allegedly first recorded on the Isle of Wight in 1848. Prior to this, a similar game was played using snail shells and the word 'conker' may have derived from a word for a shell, 'conch'. Horses aren't keen on eating conkers and the name Horse Chestnut may have derived from the horse-shoe shaped leaf scars on the twigs.

Horse Chestnut fruits