Conker shortage in Warwickshire

[dutchman]

Conker fights could be tougher than ever this year as Warwickshire is in the grip of a conker shortage.



The county council is reporting that conker numbers across Warwickshire have plummeted because of this years cold, wet weather.

The number of insects that pollinate the horse chestnut trees were down this spring and the trees flowers were lost due to heavy rain.

Ken Simons, Warwickshire County Councils forestry officer, said: The wet start to the year has had a severe impact and this is coupled with many of our common horse chestnuts suffering attacks from a range of pests and diseases, namely bacterial bleeding canker, leaf miner and leaf blotch.

All of these are threatening to remove horse chestnut trees from the landscape in the coming years.

Climatic conditions are also stressing these and other trees due to the irregular cycle of drought and flood years we have been experiencing over the last decade.

Mr Simons said that the remaining conkers are hard to find and conker hunters who do strike it lucky will generally find only small examples.

He added: The loss of these trees will have a significant impact throughout Warwickshire as many were planted in highly visible locations and as memorial trees.

[dutchman]

The number of insects that pollinate the horse chestnut trees were down this spring and the trees flowers were lost due to heavy rain.

There are a lot of conker trees around here and I don't remember seeing any conkers on them last year either?