From tees to trees ... golf course to be turned into a spruce farm

A London borough has hatched a money-making scheme to turn a golf course into a spruce farm.

Ealing has approved plans to turn Horsenden Hill golf course into a 20-acre nursery growing 6,000 trees a year. It is estimated it could generate up to £80,000 a year at a time when the council faces £96 million cuts.

As well as selling the trees wholesale, the farm will allow people to cut their own spruce. There are also proposals for a “Lapland” experience where children can meet Father Christmas. The idea was developed following a review of Ealing’s three golf courses. The council subsidises them with £159,000 every year.

Bassam Mahfouz, Ealing council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “There was an opportunity to do something that was good for the environment and would raise some income.”

Plans were approved at Tuesday’s council meeting. The first trees could be planted by the end of March and harvested in 2020.