Football Pitch-Sized Forest of Weed Found in London

Police in southwest London have uncovered a marijuana grove the size of a football pitch, surrounded by lush natural greenery.

Kingston upon Thames police announced the discovery on Twitter with pictures accompanied by the exclamation "We found a forest!" and the hashtags #CannabisTrees #TheseArentXmasTrees and #WeedKiller.

The crop of plants measured about 1.5 meters, or 5 feet, tall.

Kingston Police called to a few cannabis plants. We found a forestSeptember 25, 2015

"The area these plants were growing on was the size of a football pitch, it looked like a small forest of Christmas trees and was complete with a gazebo," Kingston PC Sarah Henderson told the Guardian.

Police called to 'small number of cannabis plants' find forest 'the size of a football pitch' http://t.co/fcfymMGTDy pic.twitter.com/s2OZRLHndg

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) September 25, 2015

"Whoever set this up used a really remote spot," she said. "The only way to get there was a 20-minute walk through wasteland. But all their time, trouble and gardening skills will go unrewarded, as the whole lot will now be destroyed by police."

Police secured the site after being alerted to the growth by a member of the public. The weed was growing on disused private land close to a college dorm, a fitness center and train station.

The police department is now arranging for the plants to be removed and disposed of. An investigation is ongoing.

Giant 'forest' of cannabis discovered in south-west London — London24 (@london24)September 25, 2015