Denis,
Shagbark hickory is Carya ovata.
Shellbark hickory is Carya laciniosa.

Typically, shellbark hickory prefers a deep, well-drained soil, as would typically be found in 'river bottom' sites here in the USA; most native shellbarks I have encountered are growing in riparian sites along creeks/rivers.
Shagbark is typically found on drier, upland sites with thinner soil than shellbark - often on hillsides.

Nuts of both species are edible, and of the 'true' hickory species(as opposed to the 'pecan' hickories), selections made for superior nut quality, the vast majority are of these two species.
Typically, the nuts of shellbark hickory are much larger, with thicker shell than those of shagbark hickory. My own personal preference is toward shagbark nuts, for their ease of cracking; although they're significantly smaller, I can amass a much greater quantity of nutmeats in a shorter timeframe, with less effort than when cracking and picking out shellbark nuts.
The two species have been known to hybridize with one another, and also will hybridize with pecan(C.illinoensis)resulting in hybrids known as hicans.

Shagbark info, including native range:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/carya/ovata.htm
Shellbark info, including native range:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/carya/laciniosa.htm

I'm sure that the nutritional information, regarding calories/fat content, etc. are available somewhere on the Internet, but I don't have that info close at hand.

Nutrition and Calories in Hickory Nuts (Dried)

Water content (grams per 100g) 2.65
Calorie content of Food (kcals per 100g/3.5oz) 657
Protein content (grams per 100g) 12.72
Fat content (lipids) (grams per 100g) 64.37
Ash content (grams per 100g) 2
Carbohydrate content (grams per 100g) 18.25
Dietary Fiber content (grams per 100g) 6.4
Sugar content (grams per 100g) N/A

Here is a link that might be useful: Nutrition information - Hickory Nuts

Shagbark and shellbark hickories both have sweet edible kernels. Shellbark nuts and kernels are a bit larger. You have to race the squirrels to collect them in the fall! I've no idea about calories or fat. Shellbark grow just south of me in floodplains and other areas with moister and more fertile soil than needed for shagbark hickory. Shagbark tolerates many soil types but will not grow in as wet of areas as shellbark. Shagbark can also be found on drier upland sites and is somewhat tolerant of drought. It does not survive long periods of time with flooding or a high water table, especially if it is during the growing season. I'm at 43 degrees north latitude and am near the northern limit for both species. Shagbark is found a little further north than shellbark. We have winters with temperatures that often have a few days with temperatures below 0 F and occasional years with temps down to negative 10 F, and rarely negative 20 F. (sorry, can't think of the C equivalents just now.) I don't know what your climate is like or if they will survive there. Shagbark leaves almost always have 5 leaflets, shellbark have 7.

From reading, I see that hickories grew in Europe before the Pleistocene Ice Age. However, that killed them off. Now there are no native hickories there. North America has 11 species of native hickories including the shagbark and shellbark.

Hickories have long taproots and are hard to transplant. I'm not very familiar with the best ways to deal with this, but would think growing young ones in deep pots and only for a short time before planting to a permanent site would work.

In other words, hickory nuts are not something you want to eat if you're trying to lose weight.

good job denis.. look how excited you got these peeps ... by not burying your question at the bottom of an old post ...

cant wait for your next post... happy new year

ken

For anyone else, it looks like Denis started this thread after seeing some photos of shagbark & shellbark nuts I'd posted some time back in the Gallery. If you care to look, the link is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shagbark & Shellbark nut photo

Thanks for all!!

My dream (today's a day, when I start my sentences: My dream :)) is tasting different nuts and fruits. My wish is to grow it in Estonia and then let's see, does it grow here. I LIKE TO TRY!!

Happy new year to all you, too!!

Gardningrandma - :D Thanks for suggestion, Happily, I'm not overweight :D

Denis