The edible fruit of the Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa has been used as a valuable food source for humans since Roman times and, unlike other nuts, is a rich source of vitamin C. Borne in a prickly seed-case, the nut is also eaten by squirrels and mice. The Sweet chestnut is a long-lived tree that can be recognised by its bark, which has fissures spiralling upwards around the trunk. It takes around 25 years for the tree to mature enough to bear its fruit.
Colin Varndell is a Dorset based natural history photographer best known for his evocative images of animals, birds, insects, wild flowers and landscapes. Colin also applies his distinctive style in photographing gardens.
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