This little specimen of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) tree was planted by me last autumn. I found the conker on the roadside; it had rooted and it seemed a shame to leave it there. To my joy it grew.

I placed both conkers and pot plant by the kitchen window on a piece of cement board, which I had painted to look like a plank of wood and for the backdrop a piece of textured backing wallpaper completed the scene.

Highly Commended - Still Life