Editing Conkers (section)

==Safety concerns==
In 2000, a survey of British schools by [[Keele University]] showed that many were not allowing children to play conkers, as head teachers were afraid of the legal consequences if children were injured while playing the game, or because they thought that the conkers might be used as weapons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1060708.stm |title=Conkers hit by legal fears |date=8 December 2000 |website=BBC News|access-date=25 October 2016 }}</ref> The TV programme [[Top Gear (current format)|''Top Gear'']] later staged a game of conkers using [[Caravan (towed trailer)|caravans]] suspended from cranes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/van-conkers|title=Van conkers |publisher=Top Gear|accessdate=2008-11-19}}</ref> After putting on safety goggles, presenter [[James May]] commented "I now feel perfectly happy about being hit in the face by a caravan." ''Top Gear'', along with other media commentators, wrongly stated that the wearing of goggles during the game was due to an official [[Health and Safety Executive]] (HSE) edict when it was in fact due to a myth which started when a headmaster bought goggles for children to use as a parody of health and safety regulation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/september.htm|title=Myth: Kids must wear goggles to play conkers|publisher=Health and Safety Executive|accessdate=2008-10-27|archive-date=30 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230152807/https://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/september.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and sponsored a conkers tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7637605.stm|title=Conkers get safety group backing |work=BBC News|accessdate=2008-10-27 | date=2008-09-26}}</ref>

In 2004, several schools in Britain banned conkers due to fear of causing [[anaphylactic shock]] in pupils with nut allergies. Health advisers said that there were no known dangers from conkers for nut-allergy sufferers, although some may experience a mild rash through handling them.<ref name=allergyban>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3722810.stm BBC News: ''School bans 'nut allergy' conkers''] (7 October 2004) (Accessed 2009-03-18)</ref>