VOLUNTEERS clearing bushes in South Norwood Country Park came across some weed - but not the kind they were expecting.
For, among the nettles, were a dozen cannabis plants hidden within the native herb they were slashing.
Stranger still, a mysterious member of the group took particular interest in the plants, which were discovered on June 26.
"While clearing the Himalayan balsam and the giant hogweed, our group discovered 12 cannabis plants among the nettles," one of the volunteers told the Advertiser.
"Between the park ranger and our volunteer officer the decision was made to pull up the plants and bag them to be destroyed at a later date.
"The funny thing is there was a volunteer who came out with us that day who none of us had seen before.
"He was very interested in the plants, was apparently a big pot smoker and was right next to the guy who discovered them.
"I think between the group we all knew they were really his plants as he was so protective over them and so desperate to take one home.
"I saw him rip a few leaves off one of the plants before it was bagged up in a last minute attempt to salvage something from the unforeseen blunder of losing his crop."
A spokesman for Croydon Council, which employs the park ranger, said the plants were removed and the neighbourhood police informed.
