Shropshire Star

Teeing off with the elephant tree at Shifnal Golf Club

They're more likely to be spotted in the rainforests of Africa, but it's rare to spot an African elephant in Shropshire – particularly on a golf course.

Published

But that's exactly what happened when Keith Bryan was on the fifth tee at Shifnal Golf Club.

He noticed close by a tree shaped like an African elephant, although it has a different type of trunk.

He said: "I don't know what has changed this year or what made me notice it.

"I've played the course a lot of times and never noticed it before.

"Maybe it was the place I was standing or how the leaves has grown this year, but it just struck me that it looked like an elephant.

"It's just something for people to have a bit of a smile about."

He added: "I haven't been at the course that much recently so I haven't been able to tell people about it, but hopefully when they start noticing it more they can have a smile about it."

Mr Bryan, who is treasurer of the club, added: "Maybe it is the covering that has changed or the way the branches have grown. It looks like a fallen branch is what makes the ear."

The tree also looks like it has an eye, front legs and a trunk reaching up to pick leaves from the branches.

Mr Bryan said he had sent an e-mail around to the members of the golf club to see what their thoughts were.