The fruit of the Horse chestnut, commonly known in the UK as Conkers.
The game of conkers is a traditional game in Britain, played using the seeds of the horse chestnut tree. The conker is threaded onto a piece of string. They take it in turns hitting each others conker using their own. To win you have to break the other persons conker.
In recent years the "H&S gone mad brigade", have tried to have it banned in schools ( they may have even succeeded, not sure). Children still love collecting them though!
Oh gosh this brings back memories, throwing sticks up the tree to try knock them down because the "ready" ones on the floor had already been collected. Taking the haul home and lovingly polishing them,soaking them in vinegar to try harden them and pinching all your mums shoes laces to thread them with. Such fun!
Brought back memories for me. I used to love playing conkers when I was a child. H&S has gone mad. Half the fun of playing conkers were the injuries you sustained in the process, ha ha.
They are similar to the Sweet Gum balls that are here. And I think we had chestnut trees as well but a blight wiped many of them out. I don't know what H&S is, but it sounds like a lot of the government red tape that regulates us to death over here. Good shot- it was fun to read everyone's good memories over your subject.
I love conkers! Damn the PC generation who want to risk assess the life and creativity out of our children!! I'm with Babs. Part of the fun was all the stuff you encountered, made the wins more spectacular!
Lovely shot. Love your explanation too. Thanks for taking the time. We have similar pods here. Some come from Sycamore trees. One doesn't want to step on them barefoot.
Thanks again to all for commenting & the favs, another pp & tp, really appreciated.