Our English Heritage is Disappearing!

[Steve_A]

Hi Everybody,

I was absolutely horrified just now to read that the conker tree is becoming extinct.

There is an article at the following link:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14/20081114/tpl-mp-fights-to-save-conkers-81c5b50.html

This could mean the end of every British schoolboys' break time as we know it!

Best regards,

Steve

[Worlds Beyond 2]

ahem.. and schoolgirl's :wink2:

I agree.. it is so sad to see.. as it is with all the wildlife, birds, countryside, sealife, green open spaces and peace and quiet we have lost in past 40 years or so...

not just in UK either.. but even worse losses of nature's gifts and creatures in other parts of the world too.. :sad:

we have to look after and heal the planet just as we have to do the same with each other/ourselves too.. time is running out.. seriously.

[Antaletriangle]

That's terrible Steve-I used to look forward to conker season-baking them in ovens,steeping them in vinegar-we tried all ways of hardening them-i used to have loads and a real feeling of delight came upon me when i found a huge one under some leaves complete in it's green.spikey case!!
I don't know whether kids are allowed to use conkers nowadays anyhow-all of this health and safety rubbish!!I don't know what the world's coming to with regards to the latter.Thanks for the alert.

http://www.projectavalon.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=4759

[Dantheman62]

Um, Conker Tree?, do you have a picture of a Conker?,sorry for being American HaHa, I know what an Oak tree is, or Maple, or Pine, or Hickory, or Pecan, but Conker, Hmmm.

[weareone]

what a shame steve, i have to admit i hadn't noticed it, theres plenty here in shropshire. But shure i would feel sad if when i had kids of my own they couldn't play conkers too. I hope it just a made up news story.

[Steve_A]

Hi Dantheman62,

The conker comes from the Horse Chesnut tree and has been part of Great British schoolboy heritage for hundreds of years for almost as long as 'Hunt the Groat' or jousting.

The image is of a conker contest where the athlete tries to break the opponents' conker. The conker that remained on its' string would be deemed the victor and thus would receive the name of a 'oner', which would be used in the next combat. If the champion conker would win, it would e deemed as a 'twoer' (I hope this technical jargon isn't complicating your understanding of this traditional English sport).

I was hoping that this sport would be considered to be accepted in the Olympic Games, but I suppose they'll just have to replace it with marbles or 'odds and evens' or something of the ilk now that the prime material is beginning to be a little thin on the ground.


http://l.yimg.com/i/i/uk/hp/conke2.jpg

Ah. The good old days.....

Best regards,

Steve


Um, Conker Tree?, do you have a picture of a Conker?,sorry for being American HaHa, I know what an Oak tree is, or Maple, or Pine, or Hickory, or Pecan, but Conker, Hmmm.

[Dantheman62]

Thanks Steve A, I really had not heard of them until now.

[Antaletriangle]

http://pluggedin.ticketliquidator.com/files/17-10-2006ConkeratFairyDell_001.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Aesculus_hippocastanum_fruit.jpg

Yeah wild they were great days i used to be up trees and rummaging around for weeks!!lol.I remember i wasn't too bad at it got a few 70'ers but i remember there were always the same ones who had 200'ers every bloomin year-i don't know what tricks they used but i wasn't happy abite it!!lol lol.

Let us prey for the conker!

[Antaletriangle]

Yeah wild they were great days i used to be up trees and rummaging around for weeks!!lol.I remember i wasn't too bad at it got a few 70'ers but i remember there were always the same ones who had 200'ers every bloomin year-i don't know what tricks they used but i wasn't happy abite it!!lol lol.

Let us prey for the conker!

This is the majestic horse chestnut.Deciduous.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Horse-chestnut_800.jpg
http://www.bomengids.nl/lente2/pics/Witte_paardenkastanje__Aesculus_hippocastanum__Hor se_chestnut@img_2494blad.jpg

[Jacqui D]

We still have them around in Kent (countryside) and the tradition of conkers is still around.
My grandson who is 8 still picks them every years and has a game with his dad.
Yes they still bake them in the oven, varnish them and what ever else they do to get them as hard as they can.
My grandson thought he would try putting one in the microwave ooooops!
Well less said about that one the better.
I think his school still lets him play with them, but some schools have become to health and safety conscience that yes this old tradition is dying out.

Me mum used to say when i was a kid "Mind or you'll have your eye out with that!" Ha Ha!! always thought that was a strange thing to say how can anyone have there eye out playing with conkers, i would think it was totally impossible. lol!!

[freekatz]

Don't forget us girls Steve....we played conkers too!


Hi Everybody,

I was absolutely horrified just now to read that the conker tree is becoming extinct.

There is an article at the following link:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14/20081114/tpl-mp-fights-to-save-conkers-81c5b50.html

This could mean the end of every British schoolboys' break time as we know it!

Best regards,

Steve

[HOPEFUL]

...

[Dantheman62]

Wow ask for pictures and I recieved!, ah you english lads and lassies, you have funny words like mum instead of mom, and learnt instead of learned, and whilst instead of while,and eveything's bloody, bloody this and bloody that, HaHa, and mate instead of friend, hmmm just stupid observations on my part but I get a kick out of it. I really enjoy talking to people around the world!

[Swanny]

Hey Dan I'm glad your learning the proper way to speak English :thumb_yello:
Remember you speak our language hehe
Boot not trunk, bonnet not hood, bumper not fender :lmfao:
Oh yea and it's maths not math

I used to love playing conkers when I was a kid, illy illy oncoker my first conker :naughty:

[Dantheman62]

HaHa yeah but did you guys really eat beans and toast for breakfast? I saw an episode of "The Osbornes" where Ozzy's son Jack said " This is a real english breakfast" as he was pouring beans over bread. Yeah that's funny, I never understood boot and bonnet.

[Swanny]

HaHa yeah but did you guys really eat beans and toast for breakfast? I saw an episode of "The Osbornes" where Ozzy's son Jack said " This is a real english breakfast" as he was pouring beans over bread. Yeah that's funny, I never understood boot and bonnet.

Nah you nave beans and toast for tea :thumb_yello:

[Dantheman62]

HaHa like tea and crumpets, or krumpets, whatever a crumpet is, I guess like a biscuit? or cookie? Hey I'm learning! I'll try anything once:rasta:and if I like it, look out! LOL!

[Swanny]

Crumpet is either this


http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1383338/2/istockphoto_1383338_toasted_english_crumpet_with_m elting_butter_against_whiteon.jpg

Or a sexy girl :wub2:

[Dantheman62]

Woo hoo on either one, I'm in! lol!

[Worlds Beyond 2]

okeey, not tooooo sure if I should reveal this, lol, but it's a classic example of the differences (and sometimes embarrasment caused) between UK/US Enlgish..
years ago I was sent to work/live in NYC, to set up a company there for my boss, anyway.. I had not long arrived there when sat in a big meeting with some US business folks, lawyers, blah blah, some big swanky office.. in my business suit etc.. you get the picture.. all quite formal and professional.. when the US exec of a company who was pitching for a marketing contract, suggested I get our company logo put onto "fanny" packs and give them away free across Manhattan..... Well.. apart from almost spitting out my coffee across the boardroom table.. think you've ever seen anyone blush before??? You've never seen anything like I was!! lol :roftl:

[Humble Janitor]

Interesting little game. Never heard of conkers till now.

[Fredkc]

God the tree pics bring back memories.
When I was elementary school age my father took an engineering job in Chile.

We had a tree in one of the recess yards that rained down the things in post #8 every fall. And yes, the full sized tree pic looks familiar as well.

The connection?
Well, the local public schools were notoriously bad, so my parents shopped around and found something started & run by the Episcopalians. A little shop called St. Johns English School. want proof?

Ok, here goes, since I KNOW no one would laugh...
http://fredsitelive.com/personal/mepics/meinuniform.jpg

yes, those ARE real knees!

Mine, in fact,
Fred

[Dantheman62]

Well aren't you prim and proper, that little guy grew up to be 6'4"?, oh nice socks,doh!

[Fredkc]

Well, if you had to walk home from the bus lookin' like that everyday, you'd grow a bunch too. Best defense.... ;)