Stop building golf courses for the wealthy - they're bad for the planet, claims Natural England boss READ: Favourite avocado on toast is destroying planet, warns Alan Titchmarsh By KATHERINE LAWTON Published: 07:28 GMT, 11 March 2025 | Updated: 07:40 GMT, 11 March 2025 Golf courses should no longer be built for the ultra-wealthy as they are harming the planet, the chairman of Natural England has said. Tony Juniper suggested sports such as golf and horse-riding should remain a limited activity for the 'better off' due to the impact they would have on the land if they were to expand. He made the comments in a new book titled Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet - about how skyrocketing consumerism poses a threat to the global environment. 'Golf is another activity that requires a lot of land and, like horse-riding, is a pastime more available to the better off,' Mr Juniper wrote. 'If everyone engaged in such pastimes we'd soon be short of land. 'Is it best to devote space to such activities, or is it better to use the land to grow more crops, thereby contributing to food security, or should it be used to create more wild areas to help reverse the decline of nature and catch carbon?' Meanwhile, the Natural England boss also urged for a regular flyer levy and said the most extreme use of private planes should not be allowed. Natural England is often consulted on new or expanded golf courses within landscape areas that are protected. Natural England chairman Tony Juniper (pictured) has suggested golf courses should no longer be built for the ultra-wealthy as they are harming the planet Mr Juniper suggested sports such as golf should remain a limited pursuit for the 'better off' due to the impact they would have on the land if they were to expand (Stock photo of a golf course in Maidenhead) Multiple former golf courses have been transformed into nature reserves in recent years, including Allestree Park in Derby. Almost 2 per cent of the country is currently used for golf courses - which makes up around the same size as Greater Manchester, The Telegraph reported yesterday. Mr Juniper's comments have come to light after Alan Titchmarsh urged people to stop eating avocados as they are destroying the planet - and instead try his everyday staple. The TV gardening expert urged Britons to choose Cornflakes or Weetabix to help save the natural world. He told The Times: 'Most of those sold in the UK are grown where the rainforest has been felled at an alarming rate to accommodate them. 'They are then shipped, often more than 5,000 miles across the ocean, as breakfast for supposedly environmentally friendly consumers. 'Golf is another activity that requires a lot of land and, like horse-riding, is a pastime more available to the better off,' Mr Juniper wrote in a new book TV's Alan Titchmarsh (pictured) said people should stop eating avocados as they harm the planet Avocadoes have become one of the most well-known cultural symbols for millennials (Stock photo) Local council wants to bulldoze city-hating residents' beloved golf course and build 1,500 homes 'There's a lot to be said for Cornflakes, Weetabix and Shreddies.' It comes as the United States braces for a rise in avocado prices. President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Mexico, one of the world's largest avocado producers, are expected to drive up costs. The carbon of an avocado is twice as high as a banana and more than five times higher than an apple. Worldwide, there are growing concerns about the impact of climate change on the largest avocado-producing countries. Mexico could see its potential growing area reduced by 31 per cent by 2050 even if the global average temperature rise is limited to under 2C, and as much as 43 per cent if it increases towards 5C, according to a 2024 report from charity Christian Aid. Alan Titchmarsh Share or comment on this article: Stop building golf courses for the wealthy - they're bad for the planet, claims Natural England boss Add comment