There is something particularly satisfying about finding a newly fallen conker. One moment you are walking through an ordinary park; the next, everybody is scanning the ground for the shiniest, roundest and most pleasingly enormous specimen. Conker picking in Kent is also a wonderfully simple autumn activity. You do not need to book a complicated experience, buy specialist equipment or persuade children to follow an itinerary. Find the right horse chestnut tree at the right time and the entertainment is already waiting beneath it. The difficulty is knowing where to look. Kent has plenty of mature horse chestnut trees, but useful information about their precise locations is surprisingly scattered. Some of the county’s historic tree trails identify individual conker trees, while a small number of attractions actively encourage visitors to collect the fallen seeds. So where to find conkers in Kent?
Some places protect everything growing within their grounds and do not permit collecting at all. I thought it would be useful to pull together six of the most promising places to find conkers in Kent, along with advice about timing your visit, identifying horse chestnut trees and enjoying a safe family conker hunt.
Availability can never be guaranteed. Conkers fall according to the weather, may be collected quickly and can be cleared from formal paths. Check the latest visitor information and ask permission where you aren’t sure of the rules around taking them.
Finding Conkers in Kent
Kent Conker-Picking Locations at a Glance
| Location | Area | Why Try It? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetts Garden | Ide Hill, Sevenoaks | National Trust-recommended conker location | Admission required; members free |
| Mote Park | Maidstone | Tree trail identifies three large horse chestnuts | Free; parking charges apply |
| Gordon Gardens and Fort Gardens | Gravesend | Horse chestnut recorded on the riverside tree trail | Free |
| Maidstone Town-Centre Tree Trail | Maidstone | Several horse chestnuts along an accessible urban walk | Free |
| Hever Castle | Hever, Edenbridge | Estate has previously encouraged conker collecting | Admission required |
| King George V Playing Field | Sittingbourne | Locally recommended for autumn conkers | Free |
I suggest waiting until the conkers have fallen naturally and then speaking to the location to confirm the current collection rules before filling your bag.
Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill – Where to Find Conkers in Kent
Emmetts Garden is the clearest established conker-picking destination in Kent. The National Trust includes the garden in its guide to finding “champion conkers”, encouraging visitors to explore its woods and gardens in search of a particularly impressive one.
The grounds contain an extensive collection of mature and unusual trees, together with woodland, lawns and far-reaching views across the Kent countryside.
Families can also use the wild play area near the Old Stables Tea Room, which makes Emmetts a good choice when you want a complete autumn outing rather than a quick trip to the local park.
Normal admission charges apply, although National Trust members enter free. Parking is included with admission. Opening times change seasonally, so check the current Emmetts Garden visitor information before travelling.
Dogs are permitted on short leads, but remember that conkers are poisonous to dogs. Watch closely around trees where many have fallen.
Address: Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 6BA
Mote Park, Maidstone -Where to Find Conkers in Kent
Mote Park is one of the strongest free options and it’s one of our personal favourites. Its heritage tree trail identifies three large horse chestnut trees beside the lake. Known as “The Three Fishermen”, their huge branches lean towards the water as though the trees are attempting to catch something.
The mature trees should provide good conker-hunting potential when the crop and timing are favourable. The Mote Park tree record confirms their location beside the lake.
The park also offers:
- A large children’s play area
- Lakeside walking routes
- Open grass
- Toilets
- Café facilities
- Paid parking
- Plenty of space for a picnic
The main Mote Avenue car park opens at 8am and closes at seasonally changing times. In September it currently closes at 8.30pm. Other designated car parks are open around the clock, although restrictions and charges should always be checked on the Maidstone Borough Council website.
Take additional care beside the lake. Young children can become so absorbed in looking down for conkers that they stop noticing water, paths, cyclists and other park users.
Collect only fallen conkers, stay away from branches extending across the water and leave plenty for wildlife and other families.
Address: Mote Park, Mote Avenue, Maidstone, Kent ME15 7SU
Gordon Gardens and Fort Gardens, Gravesend -Where to Find Conkers in Kent
Gravesend’s riverside gardens provide another promising free option.
The Gravesham Tree Trail identifies a horse chestnut within the route through Gordon Gardens and the adjoining New Tavern Fort Gardens. Its description specifically mentions the tree’s autumn conkers.
The complete walk also takes in:
- Gordon Lake
- General Gordon’s statue
- New Tavern Fort
- Riverside views
- Historic military features
- The Thames promenade
There is seating, a café, public toilets, a play area, cycle access and wheelchair accessibility within the wider Riverside Leisure Area. Gordon Gardens and the promenade remain open, while Fort Gardens and the Dell are locked half an hour before sunset.
Download the Gravesham Tree Trail before visiting. Although the trail was created several years ago, it remains a useful way to locate the recorded tree and learn about the surrounding gardens.
This is a particularly good choice if you want to combine a small nature hunt with a riverside walk and playground visit.
Address: Gordon Gardens, Milton Place, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BT
Maidstone Town-Centre Tree Trail -Where to Find Conkers in Kent
Maidstone’s heritage tree trail provides a second possibility in the town without repeating the longer Mote Park circuit.
The route begins in Brenchley Gardens behind Maidstone Museum. The shorter version takes approximately 30 minutes, while the extended route continues towards the River Medway and takes about an hour.
The trail records a red horse chestnut in Brenchley Gardens and an archway of horse chestnut trees later in the riverside section. Red horse chestnuts can produce conkers, although they may fruit less heavily than the familiar common horse chestnut.
Download the Maidstone Tree Trail and use it as a guide rather than expecting every recorded tree to produce a substantial crop.
The town-centre location makes this walk convenient for families travelling by bus or train. It can also be combined with Maidstone Museum, the riverside or a lovely lunch in town.
Try to remember that public gardens are managed spaces, so collect just a few and follow any displayed restrictions. Do not remove conkers from planted beds, cross barriers or disturb maintained areas.
Starting point: Brenchley Gardens, beside Maidstone Museum
Hever Castle, Near Edenbridge
Hever Castle has previously actively encouraged visitors to collect conkers from its grounds. The estate says horse chestnut trees grow across the grounds and recommends the walk towards the Water Maze as a particularly good place to begin.
A visit can also include:
- The historic castle
- Formal gardens
- The Italian Garden
- Lake walks
- Children’s play areas
- The Water Maze
- Seasonal activities
Normal admission charges apply, making this a full day our for the family than a quick conker-collecting trip.
The published conker guide remains live but was originally written in 2019. It’s worth asking staff whether its still okay to collect the conkers when you arrive, particularly if you intend to take more than one or two home.
Do not enter planted borders or shake ornamental trees. The pleasure lies in finding the conkers that have already landed beside the proper paths.
Address: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG
King George V Playing Field, Sittingbourne – Where to Find Conkers in Kent
King George V Playing Field is a useful local lead for families in Sittingbourne.
A nearby school’s guide to family walks describes the park as being particularly good for conkers during autumn. The site includes broad grassed areas, mature trees, a play park, tennis courts and pavilion facilities.
The playing field is off Park Avenue, with a small council-managed car park beside King George’s Pavilion.
Unlike Emmetts Garden and Hever Castle, the park does not publish a dedicated conker guide. Treat it as a promising place to investigate rather than a guaranteed supply. I’d suggest walking around the mature tree line, looking for the distinctive hand-shaped leaves and collecting only a few fallen conkers. If signs say that you can’t collect conkers (or indeed anything else from the area), you should follow that instruction.
Address: King George V Playing Field, Park Avenue, Sittingbourne
Is Knole Park a Good Place to Collect Conkers?
No, even if older articles or social posts recommend it.
The National Trust explicitly states that foraging of any kind is not permitted in Knole Park. The plants and fallen natural materials support its wild deer and form part of the protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Everything growing on the land is privately owned and protected, so conkers must remain where they fall. Follow the National Trust’s Knole Park guidance.
Knole remains a beautiful autumn walking destination, but it should be a looking-and-photographing visit rather than a collecting trip.
This illustrates why it is important to check the rules of every park, estate and nature reserve instead of assuming that fallen conkers are available to take.
When Is Conker Season in Kent?
Conkers normally ripen and fall during September and October.
The first may appear towards the end of August after strong winds, but September generally offers the best balance between mature seeds and reasonable weather.
The precise timing depends on:
- Summer temperatures
- Rainfall
- The individual tree
- Exposure to wind
- Horse chestnut pests and diseases
- Whether grounds staff clear paths
- How many other people are collecting
The Woodland Trust recommends gathering ripe conkers from the ground. Conkers still attached to a tree may be soft and unripe.
A breezy night can produce a fresh fall, but do not collect beneath large trees during strong winds. Falling branches present a much greater risk than missing the best conker.
How to Identify a Horse Chestnut Tree
Horse chestnuts have large leaves formed from five to seven serrated leaflets spreading from a central point. The overall shape resembles an open hand.
During autumn, look for:
- Large hand-shaped leaves
- Round, glossy brown conkers
- A pale mark on each conker
- Green cases covered in short, widely spaced spikes
- Large sticky buds forming on the twigs
The Woodland Trust’s horse chestnut guide contains useful identification photographs.
Do not confuse conkers with edible sweet chestnuts.
Sweet chestnuts usually sit in extremely prickly cases covered with many fine spines. The nuts are smaller, flatter and often appear together in groups. Sweet chestnut trees have individual long, toothed leaves rather than hand-shaped leaves.
If you cannot confidently identify something, do not eat it.
Can You Eat Conkers?
No. Conkers are not edible.
They contain aesculin, a poisonous compound that can cause illness if swallowed. They should not be roasted or treated like edible sweet chestnuts. Read more about it here – Woodland Trust.
Keep them away from babies and young children who still investigate objects with their mouths.
Wash hands after handling conkers and their cases, particularly before eating. This is also sensible after touching anything collected from the ground in a public park.
Are Conkers Dangerous for Dogs?
Conkers and other parts of the horse chestnut tree are poisonous to dogs. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, abdominal pain and other symptoms. A swallowed conker can also create an intestinal blockage.
Keep dogs on a short lead beneath heavily fruiting trees and prevent them from carrying or chewing conkers.
Contact your vet if you believe your dog has swallowed one. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking advice.
Conker-Collecting Etiquette
A thoughtful conker hunt should leave the park and its trees exactly as you found them.
Follow these simple rules:
- Check that collecting is permitted
- Take only a modest number
- Collect from the ground
- Never climb a tree
- Do not shake or strike branches
- Stay on permitted paths and lawns
- Avoid planted borders
- Do not throw sticks into the canopy
- Leave unopened cases attached to the tree
- Keep away from roads and deep water
- Leave plenty for wildlife
- Take litter home
- Follow instructions from staff or groundskeepers
A small basket provides more than enough conkers for games and crafts. There is little value in taking home a carrier bag full that will eventually become mouldy in a cupboard.
How to Choose the Best Conkers
Look for conkers that are:
- Firm
- Heavy for their size
- Smooth and glossy
- Free from holes
- Without deep cracks
- Recently fallen
- Fully brown rather than pale or green
An unusually enormous conker is exciting, but an evenly shaped medium-sized one may be easier to use in a traditional game.
The National Trust suggests placing conkers in water and discarding those that float, as floating can indicate internal damage. Dry the remaining conkers thoroughly afterwards.
Do not eat, lick or taste them while testing their condition.
Turn the Walk Into a Nature Hunt
Children may remain interested for longer if the outing becomes more than a race to collect the largest number of conkers.
Invite them to look for:
- Hand-shaped horse chestnut leaves
- Empty green cases
- Conkers still partly enclosed
- Different leaf colours
- Seeds from other trees
- Lichen on bark
- Birds feeding on the ground
- Signs of squirrels
- The largest tree trunk
- Natural objects in five different colours
Photograph anything you cannot identify and investigate it later rather than picking it.
Avoid collecting fungi. Some are highly poisonous, and removing or damaging them can affect the surrounding habitat.
Simple Things to Do With Conkers
Conkers can be used for several supervised autumn activities:
- Sort them by size
- Count them
- Arrange them in patterns
- Draw their different shapes
- Use them for simple number games
- Add them to a supervised seasonal display
- Make temporary faces or pictures on a tray
- Use them in a nature-based scavenger hunt
- Compare them with acorns and other tree seeds
- Plant one in a pot and observe what happens
Loose conkers can be a choking hazard, so these activities are not suitable for unsupervised babies or young children.
Avoid using cocktail sticks for children’s models unless an adult is supervising closely. A reusable blob of modelling clay provides a safer way to hold conkers together for many craft activities.
How to Play Conkers Safely
The traditional game requires an adult to make a hole through the centre of each conker and thread it with string.
A straightforward method is to:
- Choose a firm, undamaged conker.
- Place it securely on an appropriate protected surface.
- Ask an adult to make the hole with a suitable hand tool.
- Thread approximately 20–30cm of strong string through it.
- Tie a secure knot beneath the conker.
- Check the surrounding area before playing.
- Take turns striking rather than swinging simultaneously.
Wear eye protection and keep spectators well back. Stop if the conker begins to split, the string frays, or anybody starts swinging towards faces or hands. A lot of schools now don’t allow conker games, so check before sending a threaded one into the playground.
How to Store Collected Conkers
Fresh conkers contain moisture and can quickly develop mould when sealed inside a bag or box.
When you return home:
- Remove soil and pieces of damaged outer case.
- Wipe the conkers clean.
- Spread them in a single layer.
- Allow them to dry somewhere ventilated.
- Turn them occasionally.
- Discard any that soften, leak or develop mould.
- Keep them away from food, pets and very young children.
Do not place damp conkers in a closed glass jar. Condensation creates ideal conditions for mould.
Remember that conkers naturally lose their shine and shrink as they dry. They are seasonal objects rather than permanent decorations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best confirmed place to find conkers in Kent?
Emmetts Garden is the clearest established location because the National Trust specifically recommends it for conker hunting. Normal admission arrangements apply.
Where can you find conkers near Maidstone?
Mote Park has three recorded horse chestnut trees beside the lake. Maidstone’s town-centre tree trail also passes horse chestnuts in Brenchley Gardens and beside the River Medway.
Where can you collect conkers for free?
Mote Park, Gordon Gardens, Maidstone’s public tree trail and King George V Playing Field are free to enter, although parking charges may apply. Always check current collection rules.
Can you collect conkers from National Trust land?
Rules vary between properties. Emmetts Garden is included in the National Trust’s conker guide, but Knole Park prohibits all foraging. Check the page for the individual property.
Can you take conkers from the pavement?
A few fallen conkers beneath a street tree may appear harmless, but avoid obstructing pedestrians, entering private property or collecting beside a busy road. Local restrictions can still apply.
Should you knock conkers out of a tree?
No. Wait for ripe conkers to fall naturally. Throwing sticks or striking branches can damage the tree and injure people standing below.
Are conkers poisonous to children?
Conkers contain a poisonous compound and must not be eaten. Supervise young children closely and keep loose conkers away from anyone likely to place them in their mouth.
What month is best for conker picking?
September is normally the most reliable month in Kent. Conkers can continue falling through October.
Where to Find Conkers in Kent
For the clearest established conker-picking destination, start with Emmetts Garden.
For a free outing, try the three large horse chestnuts beside the lake in Mote Park or follow the Gravesham Tree Trail through Gordon Gardens and Fort Gardens.
Hever Castle is a good choice when you want to combine conker collecting with a complete paid day out. Its route towards the Water Maze has previously been recommended by the estate.
Whichever location you choose, wait for the conkers to fall naturally, take only a modest number and check the current rules. Do not collect at Knole Park, where all foraging is prohibited.
Then take your treasures home, spread them out to dry and prepare for the annual discovery that one small basket of conkers can occupy a family for a surprisingly long time.
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