Country diary: I'm too late for the sweet chestnuts this year | John Gilbey

Rhydyfelin, Ceredigion: On another warm autumn day before the grey blur of winter, I find that the September gales denied me my seasonal nutty snackA mature sweet chestnut tree stands by the path at the field edge. As I pass, boat-shaped leaves ease downwards through the still air, landing on me with a surprising impact. In this sheltered, west?facing spot the tree has prospered, but this year I have arrived too late to enjoy the plump astringent nuts that fall in groups from spiked cases. Unlike its toxic cousin the horse chestnut, the nuts make excellent eating - but only a few specimens remain here, the gales of September having brought many of the seed cases to the ground before their time.This tree evokes memories of almost forgotten autumns, of days with my father when as a child I explored the depths of the New Forest on Sunday forays. Then later, in my 20s, finding with friends hidden stands of sweet chestnut in the Teign valley of Devon, emerging with pockets bursting with nuts to roast - hissing - on the fire, after carefully piercing them to avoid explosions. Continue reading...