The Conker tree

 

The Conker tree or Horse Chestnut tree if you want its proper name grows on the Forty or Village green to  people who are ignorant of what local places are called.

It's been there longer than I have been around 

More than I can say for this monstrosity which was built back in the 1960's with no thought whatsoever to any architecture design or being sympathetic to the fact it was a village  

 There are six shops with in, the one to the right is the Butchers and though changed hands has been here the longest along with the hairdressers which is second left which changed hands a few times, around the corner is a men's barbershop and a pharmacy. The pharmacy which used to occupy the two units was made smaller and the barber shop took the vacant unit on

Over to the left is a cafe that has changed hands so much I forgot what was there to start with. the newest shop is on the right which seems to sell vintage items for want of a better word. At least it looks better that the Accountants that used to be there.

 Anyway back to Conker trees, this is Whitehead meadow or School meadows as I used to know it, the old school is where the buildings you can see to the right are. The school was converted to be a retirement home and some new parts added to it. When were were kids we collected conkers to play the game with

 

When I walk around now I see conkers scattered  all over the ground

 

 

As kids these would be collected and a hole put through them with a  skewer and a knotted string threaded through so you could play the game of conkers. The game is banned from school yards now because H&S has come to the rescue of kids getting there knuckles rapped buy missed conker hits and teachers not wanting to be responsible for the kids getting hurt and I don't think some of the parents help either. We live in a nanny state now

 

 The conker tree still grows shedding its seeds each year though now there are more laying around. I'm not sure I miss getting my knuckles wrapped by the missed hits so may be is is a good thing it is not played so much.

Take Care