Conkers - any other uses?

MikeAndHisLovelyPlant

Firstly, do I win a prize for least topical post?

We have many horse chestnut trees near us. In the autumn some friends and I have a few games of conkers (for old times sake) but many 1000s of conkers just get crushed on the roads.

Are there any sensible (and clean!!!) uses for them?

Cheers

Mike

moggins

No but I wish I could think of some as we get overrun with them down here too

Calephetos

Plant them in pots, encourage them and then, when they're big enough, nip out to town at 3am and indulge in a little arboreal terrorism?

Stealth chestnuts.



Edited for clarity.

thriftlady_2

I always collect a big bagful to put in a large wooden bowl.I just love to look at them and rumble my hands through them.They don't last that long actually before they go mouldy.

If you look out a few craft books at the library,particularly children's books you'll find some ideas.I've seen dolls house furniture made out of conkers and pins(a pin at each 'corner' makes a table).

outrageous_monkey

We have a horse chestnut tree in our back garden, cant do a thing with it as it has a bl**dy preservation order on it. So I too would be very grateful for any tips as to what else you can do with conkers

tinamaria

I usually place them at the base of church candles along with pines, they look very effective!

MikeAndHisLovelyPlant

That's largely a "no" then, but at least it's topical now.

Mike

LizD_2

Placed on windowsills they supposedly repel spiders, apparently they don't like the smell (the spiders that is)

BlondeHeadOn

Would they make a mulch if you can gather enough of them? They would look quite attractive in my flower bed at the moment I reckon! Might attract the squirrels though (do squirrels eat conkers? they seem to eat everythign else around here...)

Of course, you might have to spend next year fishing out the little saplings that start poking through... Although we have to do that anyway, because of all the little oak and hazel saplings that come through - courtesy of the squirrels again.....

springtide

Apparently if you put one in each corner of a room it keeps the spiders away! I have heard people swear by this, but I don't really mind spiders so I havent tried it!

verynewmoneysaver

apparently they can be used to repel clothes moths if you put them in your clothing drawers and wardrobes.