Do you remember the thrill of cracking open a spiky case to find a perfect conker inside?
As children we would spend whole afternoons scuffing about under horse chestnut trees. As grown-ups we walk straight past them, too busy to bend down.
This week, why not take 15 minutes for a little hygge moment and collect conkers or acorns? It is simple, a bit nostalgic and gets you outside in the fresh autumn air.
Bulging coat pockets are allowed.
Make it cosy
Before you set off, grab a few things:
- A coat with deep pockets, or a small paper bag
- Boots you do not mind getting muddy
- Gloves, handy for prising open prickly cases
- A park, wood or tree-lined street you know well
- A little one to come along, if you have one to hand
Your 15 minutes of autumn treasure
- Find your tree. Look for horse chestnuts with their broad leaves, or oaks with their wiggly-edged ones.
- Look down. Scan the grass and leaf litter for a glint of brown.
- Pick the best ones. Glossy conkers, acorns still wearing their little cups.
- Feel them. Roll a conker in your palm and notice how smooth and cool it is.
- Keep just a handful. Leave plenty behind for the squirrels and the next treasure hunter.
Slow it right down
There is no prize and no target. Just the small, absorbing pleasure of searching and finding, the kind that makes the to-do list fade for a while.
As you gather, try to notice:
- The crunch and rustle under your boots
- The rich, polished shine of a freshly opened conker
- The damp, earthy smell under the trees
- How quickly you start to feel like a child again
Finish gently
Bring your finds home and tip them into a little bowl on the kitchen table or windowsill. A small reminder of the season, and of the time you spent being out in nature.
You could also:
- Arrange them in a glass jar with a few autumn leaves
- Teach a child how to play conkers the old-fashioned way
- Pop one in your coat pocket to hold on stressful days
- Come home to a warm drink and rosy cheeks
Do remember that conkers and acorns are not for eating, so keep them out of reach of little ones and pets.
Your 15-minute challenge
This weekend, give yourself 15 minutes.
Find a tree. Look down. Fill your pockets.
Then carry your little haul home and set it somewhere you will see it.
It does not have to be a big woodland walk. It does not have to be for the children.
It just has to be this weekend.
Grown-ups are allowed to love conker season too.
For more hygge moments subscribe below: