This is one of only two Sweet Chestnut trees, Castanea sativa, in Buck Wood.
They aren't related to the Horse-chestnut, which is Aesculus hippocastaneum. We've only identified one of those in Buck Wood, near the Open Air School site, which is surprising because they grow very easily from the conkers so popular with children. Maybe the children at the Open Air School were too well disciplined to play with conkers?
But back to the sweet chestnuts, which are striking trees with dramatic leaves and long yellow catkins earlier in the year, and often with a crop of small but edible chestnuts in the autumn.
They are however, very dependent on sunny weather to grow and mature - and this year that's been sadly lacking! So this picture is from a previous year. But it shows how prickly the cases of the nut are, much more formidable to open than non-edible chestnuts, but worthwhile when the nuts inside are big enough to eat. However, there isn't a single one this autumn, so my fingers will be saved from injury, and the chestnuts will come from the shops. Which isn't nearly so much of a treat!
CA
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