A 70-ACRE Powick hop farm could be turned into a country park, with attractions such as a pay-and-play golf course, a maze of dwarf hops or a mountain bike circuit.

Owner Thomas Hawkins wants people in Powick and Callow End to tell him what kinds of activities they would like at Manor Farm, besides saying what they do not want to see there.

"We have a blank sheet of paper in terms of decisions," he told members of Powick Parish Council at its monthly meeting.

"Is there anything the parish wants, which it hasn't got?"

He told members that hop production had been hit by wilt, a progressive soil-borne disease, and by severe global competition.

Manor Farm had not produced any hops for the last two years and production had only continued by renting from a neighbour.

Diversification would enable four full-time employees to be retained and more staff could be needed in time.

Mr Hawkins said he was looking for attractive and rural uses for the land and there was no question of its being turned into a theme park, but the solution would have to be more than a country walk and a picnic area.

Council members had some worries about the likely increase in traffic, but agreed to seek ideas and comments through the parish newsletter.