Sweet Chestnut

The seriously spiky fruits of the Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) are beginning to form in good quantities. I say 'seriously spiky fruits', although it's only the protective outer case that's prickly, the nut inside is, as it's name suggests, sweet and full of goodness.  The Sweet Chestnut is not a native of our land, although having been introduced by the Romans 2000 years ago it has now become naturalized and is commonly found throughout the forest; this may be as it produces a valuable, durable and versatile timber, which would have been much sought after.