Cinnamon Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Is it illegal to pick wild flowers? I have a niggle that I have heard it is somewhere,& would really love to know for sure. There is the most gorgeous huge patch of Snowdrops just over the road from my office window & people keep picking them,which I think is wrong.They should be there for all to enjoy,not on someones windowsill just for them to appreciate. I have a vested interest in them too as they came from my garden originally. When we first extended we had to dig foundations & I rescued the bulbs & popped them over the road to be safe,where now,15 years later,they have flourished into a lovely big white patch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I dont know for sure, but Ive found ***this*** why dont you put a sign on a wooden board that says something along the lines of "please dont pick these wild flowers, please leave them for everyone to admire, we cant see them in your kitchen" some people might ignore it, but the majority I think would just leave them. hope this is helpful (I love snowdrops ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I believe your right yes, thats what I have always been told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Technically theft as all land belongs to somebody. It is illegal to uproot wild flowers anywhere though but not, alas, to pick them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I thought that it was the taking up of the root or bulb that was a no no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 Technically theft as all land belongs to somebody. It is illegal to uproot wild flowers anywhere though but not, alas, to pick them. Ah yes,that sounds familiar. When i was a very small child we lived in a woods that was smothered in Bluebells So we picked them as they were ours,but any bulbs that came up,as the woodland floor was so soft,we had to poke back in. I will continue to guard 'my' Snowdrops & defend them from the hands of the many tourists who come to the village at the weekends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 It's a bit selfish! My mother was on a bus one day and saw two ladies helping themselves to the just flowering daffodils the council plant on many of their odd patches of land. They weren't just taking a few, they had bucketfuls of them I used to have daffs in pots in the front garden until a neighbour had some of hers picked around Mother's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 A couple of years ago me and OH were picking dandelions (tortoise food) by the edge of a wood and we got stopped by a park ranger who threatened to fine us £1000 He let us off in the end but we weren't allowed to take the dandelions we had already picked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 My understanding is that in general you can pick the flowers, but not dig up the plant/root/bulb, but that in protected areas (such as an SSSI) you can't even pick them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 A couple of years ago me and OH were picking dandelions (tortoise food) by the edge of a wood and we got stopped by a park ranger who threatened to fine us £1000 He let us off in the end but we weren't allowed to take the dandelions we had already picked. That's outrageous! Sounds like a jobsworth park ranger.. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Why not email Natural England and ask? http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/protectplants.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I saw someone picking snowdrops yesterday - very annoying, there was only a small patch of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I thought it was completely illegal to remove pick etc wild flowers but is the snowdrop a wild flower?. There are a lot of theft of ie bluebells and snowdrops so if the landowner objected then yes it is theft. But how can anyone even think of picking them..seems a right cheek as they are removing what is meant to be enjoyable for everyone...can understand your frustrations Can you put a sneaky little notice up?? or go and tell them off?? indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 How about giving the stems a little rub with chicken poo?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 It is selfish, and I think it's also illegal, but would need to check. 'Leave nothing but footprints and take away nothing but memories' Would be good on your sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Unfortunately..... you can pick or pluck fruit, flowers, foliage or fungi GROWING WILD on ANY land as long as your intention when you pick them is not for commercial gain. Not uproot, dig up, sever large shrubs etc. Has to be growing wild and not planted. So any WI members out there who have raided the hedgerows for their blackberry jam to sell....beware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 So any WI members out there who have raided the hedgerows for their blackberry jam to sell....beware They've got to catch you first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
