German conkers in line to be big hit as UK suffers shortage

CONKERS players could be forced to bring the nuts over from Germany for the world championships after the heatwave coupled with strong winds caused horse chestnut trees to be bare.

Conkers that have survived the unusual weather conditions are too small to play with, organisers have said. They fear they will have to start importing the nuts en masse.

The Scottish championships, due to be held in Peebles next month, have already been cancelled because the harvest was too poor. Organisers looked at importing chestnuts from Germany, but have been unable to find a supply in time. Similar fears have hit the World Conker Championships, which will be held on Oct 14 in Northamptonshire.

St John Burkett, one of the organisers, told The Daily Telegraph: “We are asking people to collect conkers for the world championships now. Whilst we’re hoping that some will still be on the trees nearer the time, and will have time to grow a little larger, we can’t be sure.”

He added: “We have checked the restrictions on importing plant materials into the country, and conkers are unrestricted from the European Union, providing they are from healthy trees. We already have one offer of conkers from Germany, where apparently there are many healthy and fruitful trees.”

The committee said that trees are already empty after last week’s storms stripped the young horse chestnuts from branches.