Picking wild daffodils - AIBU

I read recently that it is actually illegal to pick wild daffodils and bluebells punished by at max, a prison sentence. Sounds extreme but it was there in black and white.

Quite agree, PinkCosmos. Flowers in public places, whether wild or cultivated, are for everyone (not to mention for the insects we need for our very survival) and it really makes me furious to see people picking them, or worse, kicking them out of the ground for no reason.

Yes, as you say if everybody did it there would be none. My daughter has a beautiful bluebell wood behind her house but would not dream of picking any of the flowers. And yes I think it is actually illegal

Against the law. Has been for years.

I have seen this happen and stopped my car and blasted the horn until they retreated and drove away.

I have also had a stand up argument with three ladies who justified what they were doing by saying the flowers were going to be sold and the proceeds would go to Marie Curie.

Flowers in public places should be for the joy of everyone.

I agree Esspee flowers in public areas are for everyone to enjoy.

Unfortunately it's not uncommon for people to pick wildflowers. I have seen a bank of daffodils disappear overnight.

Totally agree with everybody. They have been planted there for everyone to enjoy. I like a jug of spring flowers on my kitchen window and rather than pick ones from my own garden I lash out and spend 85p in Aldi's for a bunch - last of the big spenders here!!!!

The daffodils obviously aren’t wild but they were planted for everyone to enjoy, not for people to pick. Very selfish.

No, people shouldn’t be picking them.

We have a beautiful verge of daffodils on the hill near us, and you quite often see where people have been picking them - or even worse, just pulling them up and scattering them! It's very selfish.

I used often to pass a local secondary school. Opposite it and leading all the way down hill into town was a bank of daffodils. Really heart lifting when they were all out.
The children coming out of school spent some time smashing their heads off with sticks., and left a total mess. I rang the school and spoke to the head. He just passed it of as”Kids today”. !!!!!

Bunches of daffodils cost £1 a bunch in many stores. If everybody picked daffodils that have been planted out for everyone to appreciate, what a shame that would be

My county has lots of daffodils at this time of year lots have been planted to make it more special. I am cross when I see people picking them or any other wildflowers.

There was a huge patch of snowdrops on a bank near where \I lived. I saw one lady do just this .... stop and pick some. I was furious!

Worse still the selfish pillocks who dig up the snowdrop clumps for their own garden. My new neighbour has just done this. I don’t want to fall out with her so I just said that had I known she was so short of funds I’d have bought her some bulbs. She looked suitably ashamed.

We lived by a public footpath in a remote part of Shropshire.
We had people in white vans come at the dead of night and pick thousands.

Didn't know it was illegal. Great.

Here is what the law says about picking flowers and other wild fruit etc.

Under the1968 Theft Actand the1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, it’s illegal in the UK to:
pick, uproot or destroy any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier. This includes wildflowers growing in council parks and council-maintained displays on protected land, verges, roundabouts and nature reserves. It would also include flowers growing on National Trust properties. Pick flowers, fruit, foliage or mushrooms growing wild on any land for the purpose of selling them. Pick rare or endangered flowers.

No, you are not being unreasonable. It's just another example on an ever growing list of those who don't give a stuff.

LauraNorderr

Worse still the selfish pillocks who dig up the snowdrop clumps for their own garden. My new neighbour has just done this. I don’t want to fall out with her so I just said that had I known she was so short of funds I’d have bought her some bulbs. She looked suitably ashamed.

Good comment LauraNorderr A red face there I suspect.

This is the legislation under the Theft Act.

1. You should only pick one flower for every 20 in the patch. If there are fewer than 20, leave them alone.

2. Don't disturb wildlife in the area.

3. Pick flowers which are not privately owned or critically endangered.

4. Don't ever pick flowers in public parks, community gardens, or on National Trust property or nature reserves.

5. Never pull the wildflowers by their roots, as this will mean they will no longer return the following year. If you do pick the flowers, ensure you leave a substantial amount of the plant to allow it to continue to grow.

Disgraceful picking these flowers !! some people are so full of their own entitlement

As Daisy says, it is not illegal to pick a few flowers on the whole.

They must be of a non-endangered species and not for a non-monetory purpose.

Picking a few for granny or picking parts of a plant (leaves, flower stems, fruit and seed) to cook with is therefore OK.
You mustn't remove or uproot the whole plant or leave so little that it's unlikely to survive.

I think it's the same legislation for mushrooms.