IWRITE these notes in the second week of May with bluebells and other spring flowers blooming early following the hot April.

Horse chestnuts are also reaching their peak early and this is also the case with hawthorn now looking like snow drifts.

The white blossom of horse chestnut has been described as the first sign of summer but this year it has become the symbol of an early spring.

The tree is not a native to Britain but grows wild in the hilly areas of Greece and the Balkans.

It was introduced into Britain from the 17th century and has proved popular in gardens and parklands, often planted in avenues at the roadside.

There are plenty of excellent specimens, some reaching 100 feet in height all over East Lancashire.

The foliage has long been attractive to cattle and horses but has been surprisingly slow to become dominant in Britain unless it has been planted deliberately.

Most experts think that as it was introduced it could not compete with the larger and more dominant native trees such as oak and beech.

Once the ‘candle blossoms’ have faded, the fruit begins to develop.

This has a protective shell which is covered with spikes and inside is the seed which children everywhere recognise as a conker.

The original game was called conquerors with a hole being bored through the seed to allow a string to be inserted.

It seems that playing conkers is now regarded as a dangerous sport with goggles and head protectors being advised by so-called safety experts.

Many old timers worry that much of the fun is being taken out of childhood.