Picking wild daffodils - AIBU

I wish people didn’t plant cultivated daffodils (especially tall daffodils) along verges. Great if they planted our own native species but they don’t. I’m not sure that picking daffodils from cultivated bulbs would be classed as illegal. They are not wild flowers.

We live next to a small river in East Anglia. Over 30 years ago an half acre island upstream from us came up for sale. We bought it and was very overgrown with a public footpath running along one side of the island.
We planted 300 small trees and tidied up the huge willow trees. A few years later I bought 100 snowdrops in the green and planted them in a small square area. I have lifted and replanted the bulbs several times and now we have thousands of snowdrops.
Some people will leave the public footpath and pick the flowers and if I meet them I will politely ask them not to do so. I have found some holes in the ground where bulbs have been dug up.
Why do we do this? All the work we do on the island is done in memory of our baby daughter who died suddenly age 7 months over 40 years ago.

So sorry for your terrible loss chocolatepudding. What love you have poured into a wonderful permanent memorial to your baby.?

I’m sorry for your loss chocolatepudding, what a beautiful idea to plant a permanent living memorial to her.
Zoejory that’s a glorious photograph.

On our small street we have a strip of verge between the pavement and road and last autumn residents got together and planted daffodil bulbs in those verges. Interestingly, according to our deeds, although the council cuts the grass on those verges they do belong to the house they are in front of -

I reported a family, who were picking daffs by the side of the main road, to the police by giving their car Reg number. The police had words with them. I didn't hear the outcome .
I have also had children picking diffs by the side of my drive. They said-------Its OK. its in the countryside.

I was going to say, make it obvious you are taking photos of them picking the flowers but get their car reg no as well, then you can send it off to the Police. Whether they follow it up who knows, but they should as it's illegal.

You are most definitely not being unreasonable

SpringyChicken

I wish people didn’t plant cultivated daffodils (especially tall daffodils) along verges. Great if they planted our own native species but they don’t. I’m not sure that picking daffodils from cultivated bulbs would be classed as illegal. They are not wild flowers.

I don't think most people know the difference as there are lots of people even on this forum saying they are only 90p on the shops.

What a lovely tribute to your baby girl chocolatepudding.

I think I've posted this before but...

My dad kept his gardens, front and back, beautifully. Full of roses, allysum, lobelia and hydrangea as was the fashion back in the 60s and 70s. My mum came out of the front door one day about 15 years ago to find a young teenage girl snipping roses from the bushes. She was actually IN their front garden. When challenged, she told my mum that her mum had told her that because the house was a council house, it belonged to everyone and therefore she could pick the flowers! Never mind the fact that it wasn't a council house (they owned it), but mum was gobsmacked that anyone would say such a thing!!

Nothing in public fields, forest or byways should be picked, not even mushrooms or toad stalls in the forest. They are there for the enjoyment of all.

I know for a fact some years ago daffodils used to go missing from the village garden beds around Mother's day.
The school kids used to gather bunches of them.
My daughter included.
I'm ashamed to say it amused me.

It amused you? Good grief.

It's really awful to pick daffodils. They have been planted to give enjoyment to everyone. I live in a town with hundreds of daffodils along main roads, as well as crocuses in grass verges and parks, and they really are a joy to see each spring.