Conker Hanger Moth Deterrent (Aesculus hippocastanum)

There is a large, old horsechestnut tree outside my kitchen window. At the moment the horse chestnuts (known as conkers in the UK or buckeyes in the US) are becoming ripe and thudding to the ground. They are round,  polished and lovely to hold. I am unable to see  them  shining on the ground without picking them up, often  they end up forgotten in bags and pockets. Here in Italy they are almost completely ignored, I've only ever spotted school kids throwing them at each other. In the past they were put under pillows to ward off a fever. When I was a kid in the UK they were greatly appreciated, especially by young boys for "conker fights".  I remember my brother experimenting to discover the best way to harden his "weapons"(Baking/ Aging/Varnishing/Pickling). "Conker Fighting" is an old children's game,popular in the UK, which has become less common in  recent years as   many schools  have banned  it ( considered dangerous) and computer/video games/ phones/i-pods  have taken the place of such passtimes.

Conkers  also deter moths as they contain a natural repellent (triterpenoid saponin). Some say they even repel spiders, but I'm not convinced. I don't have any moths but I do still have spiders (country living!).
I  like to make these simple, pretty hangers to deter moths from my wardrobes. The conkers can be changed every year. They make great gifts for kids to give to mums, aunts, grans and neighbours.

Materials
Conkers
Coathanger
String
Large Needle
Drill or hammer and nail
Ribbon
Glue-gun or glue
Pliers

Cut the top part off an old coathanger (the type which are given by drycleaners) with pliers  

Leave 4/5 centimeters from the bend and use the pliers to curve it into a circle.

Cover the hook with ribbon. Attach at the end with a glue-gun.

Wrap the ribbon tightly and fix it at the other end.

Allow the conkers to dry out for a few days (sun or low heat).

Drill holes in the conkers and thread them onto some string, Make a few knots between the conkers to stop them dropping down, as they shrink over time. If you haven't got a drill you can also use a hammer and a nail to make the holes.

 

Attach the string to the hook.

Tie a bow with some ribbon and hang.

I also string conkers to put into drawers (especially for wool/cashmere). They look great with old lace.

 

Further reading

 All about conkers
 wikipedia-Conkers
 how to play conkers (great school site about British holidays,customs and culture)
 ten-things-to-do-with-conkers
Royal Society of Chemistry (fun investigation-"are spiders afraid of conkers?")

 


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