Conkers and horse chestnuts – did you know?published at 15:26 BST
15:26 BST
Image source, Getty Images
They’re a staple of every park, village green and street in the country, but the horse chestnut isn’t actually from these here parts.
It was introduced to the UK from Turkey in the 16th Century.
That’s probably why there’s so little British folklore about them. But what about conkers?
Image source, Getty Images
The first record of the game is from the Isle of Wight in 1848.Other uses of conkers include horse medicines, as additives in shampoos, and as a starch substitute.
Chemicals extracted from conkers can be used to treat strains and bruises.
(There’s hearsay that if you place conkers around your house it will keep spiders away, but there’s no scientific proof that this is the case.)Also the Victorians wrote recipes for making conker flour. The seeds were shelled, ground and then leached to remove bitter flavours.
Don’t try that at home – they’re poisonous.
Source: Woodland Trust, external
Image source, Orla Moore/BBC