FabSwingers.com forum: Picking wildflowers

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I was out for a walk this morning on a country lane and growing wild in the hedgerow there were lots of snowdrops, crocusses and daffodils. It was really nice to see this sight after such a grim winter, so I decided to pick a few to take home with me.

Next thing I know a woman is driving past and she stopped to ask what I was doing. I told her I was picking a few flowers to take home with me, and she told me I was WRONG to be doing that, and that they didn't BELONG to me and that I was STEALING!

Now normally I'd just tell her to mind her own business or worse, but I wasn't feeling confrontational so I just ignored her. I know the flowers did not belong to anyone as they were not outside of someone's house or on council property. I also was careful with how I picked them and I only took enough to fill a small vase.

It's no big deal and I let it go, but since then it's really bugged me that I let this stupid busy-body off without giving her the fat end of my tongue.

The flowers look lovely in my bathroom by the way.

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By *naswingdressWoman
over a year ago

Manchester (she/her)

Under English and Welsh criminal law, taking some wild growing flowers and plants for non commercial purposes is not theft.

#themoreyouknow

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don't know about rules in the UK.. but are any of them protected somehow?

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By *luebellRacerCouple
over a year ago

Shropshire

A lot of flowers are actually protected.

I wouldn't pick them. Take a picture. Let them be pollinated and grow again next year.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A lot of flowers are actually protected.

I wouldn't pick them. Take a picture. Let them be pollinated and grow again next year.

Thanks for clarifying

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By *luebellRacerCouple
over a year ago

Shropshire

Also.. if everyone just "picked a few"... how would that end up?..

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By *naswingdressWoman
over a year ago

Manchester (she/her)

"A lot of flowers are actually protected.

I wouldn't pick them. Take a picture. Let them be pollinated and grow again next year.

I don't know the specifics and I don't pick flowers myself, but as a general rule it is permitted.

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By *olden PoleMan
over a year ago

Kent

My friend it seems we can’t do a thing nowadays without someone having to butt in with something to say.

I can’t get a bead on when society became so opinionated and so eager to want trouble with just about anyone.

A shocking and horrific clip was sent to me the other day in which a couple were SHOT after starting and argument with a man shovelling snow from one side of the street to the other.

What are we becoming I ask myself!?!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

They are not a rare or protected species, and it is not illegal to pick them for personal use providing they are not dug up.

I believe the Wildlife Trust has a recommendation for picking no more than 1 in 20, which I was well within.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"They are not a rare or protected species, and it is not illegal to pick them for personal use providing they are not dug up.

I believe the Wildlife Trust has a recommendation for picking no more than 1 in 20, which I was well within."

You have a perfect comeback for next time then!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My kids hunt for snapped ones in the park, there's always plenty.

Enjoy your flowers op

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you like a flower, you pick it, if you love a flower, you leave it.

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By *ildbillkidMan
over a year ago

where the road goes on forever

[Removed by poster at 05/02/21 17:16:34]

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"If you like a flower, you pick it, if you love a flower, you leave it.

Yes I agree with that to a point, but my God this winter has been grim and I've given them a good home.

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By *ildbillkidMan
over a year ago

where the road goes on forever

[Removed by poster at 05/02/21 17:17:21]

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By *ildbillkidMan
over a year ago

where the road goes on forever

Over here picking wildflowers is ok as long as its safe to do so (watch out for cars along the side of the road) some areas are protected national parks rare species,

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I once had a crazy lady start on me and my daughter after she picked a daffodil in a field, don't know why everyone can't just keep their negativity to themselfs, if you haven't broken any rules then just ignore the wierdos

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You're depriving everyone else the chance to see them, which is selfish.

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By *hrista BellendWoman
over a year ago

surrounded by twinkly lights

Pop some lemonade in the vase and the flowers will last a little bit longer OP

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By *offiaCoolWoman
over a year ago

Kidsgrove

"Pop some lemonade in the vase and the flowers will last a little bit longer OP

All flowers or just daffodils ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Picking them means other folk won't get to see what you saw.

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By *ex HolesMan
over a year ago

Up North

You need to be careful OP as it is illegal to pick certain wildflowers in some areas. Don’t believe what Mr Google says when he says it’s OK to do so.

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By *ollydoesWoman
over a year ago

Shangri-La

"Pop some lemonade in the vase and the flowers will last a little bit longer OP

All flowers or just daffodils ?"

Ive always known it to be any flowers. Also dont put flowers into really cold water straight out the tap.

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By *rPeachyMan
over a year ago

Bristol

If you don't know what you're picking then best leave as there are plenty that have legal protection.

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By *ollydoesWoman
over a year ago

Shangri-La

There are daffodils growing down both side of the road my mum lives on. My dad used to get the right hump when he saw people picking them, esp at Easter, but understand why he did now as where there used be a covering going down both sides its now just a few handfuls here and there as not only did they pick the flowers half the time they pulled the bulb out with them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

All this emotion over a few flowers

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"There are daffodils growing down both side of the road my mum lives on. My dad used to get the right hump when he saw people picking them, esp at Easter, but understand why he did now as where there used be a covering going down both sides its now just a few handfuls here and there as not only did they pick the flowers half the time they pulled the bulb out with them."

Yes i understand people's anger when they are overpicked, and if the flowers are on roadside verges this is probably illegal as this is often council maintained land.

Thanks for the lemonade tip btw

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By *eoeclipseWoman
over a year ago

glasgow

The problem with picking flowers especially wild ones means that the bees are left without food & without bees we have no food or at least a hell of alot less & the bees are endangered...not that anyone seems to care.

I personally hate picking flowers & don't let my kids do it either for the reasons above plus

your killing the flowers for a few days decoration...

Once someone picks them, others pick them too...

It kills the flower & they don't return the next year...

We need to stop thinking we can take what we want from nature, other creatures that are required for biodiversity need them too...even if they are insects, the world is a web, we're not separate from one another.

And yes I'm a bit of a hippy

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Are there any bees about in this cold weather?

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By *hrista BellendWoman
over a year ago

surrounded by twinkly lights

"Pop some lemonade in the vase and the flowers will last a little bit longer OP

All flowers or just daffodils ?"

I use it just for daffs as they have a sap that poisons other cut flowers in a vase, for all other cut flowers its best to use the commercial flower food and warm water as they may not like the carbonated bubbles of lemonade

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Pop some lemonade in the vase and the flowers will last a little bit longer OP

All flowers or just daffodils ?

I heard sugar and a tiny amount of bleach

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If you like a flower, you pick it, if you love a flower, you leave it.

Yes I agree with that to a point, but my God this winter has been grim and I've given them a good home.

Im torn on this too, I would normally say leave them but have occassionally picked a flower to cheer myself up. How about pressing them in a book before they totally die off and they are preserved forever and not lost. And get growing something lovely in a pot you can pick and pick at all summer

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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago

South Wales

"Are there any bees about in this cold weather?"

They’re in hivebeenation

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By *andyfloss2000Woman
over a year ago

ashford

U are not supposed to pick them but know what u mean years ago we allways did can just smell the heady perfume of bluebells picked from the woods I miss primroses they dont seem to b abundant like they used to x

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By *ecadent_DevonMan
over a year ago

Okehampton

We have fields of them down here. All commercially grown. The flowers you picked were not protected. You didn’t sell them. You’re good.

If we deny ourselves the pleasures of the past, we will find the joys of the future tarnished

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"The problem with picking flowers especially wild ones means that the bees are left without food & without bees we have no food or at least a hell of alot less & the bees are endangered...not that anyone seems to care.

I personally hate picking flowers & don't let my kids do it either for the reasons above plus

your killing the flowers for a few days decoration...

Once someone picks them, others pick them too...

It kills the flower & they don't return the next year...

And yes I'm a bit of a hippy

You make good points but I don't think it's right that a picked flower does not return. Maybe it's the case for some species but generally I think most flowers will grow again if the root is left in place (not an expert so I may stand corrected)

I take your point on the bees and i certainly believe in our responsibility to nature. With that in mind, who's doing the most damage here? Me on a walk picking a few flowers for my home or the person who berated me for it as she was driving up the lane?

I'm sure if the bees had a vote they would sooner see the back of her and her car than me with my bike and bag.

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By *he MuffinmanMan
over a year ago

West Gloucestershire

"Under English and Welsh criminal law, taking some wild growing flowers and plants for non commercial purposes is not theft.

#themoreyouknow"

Might not be theft but it's not ethical and many wild flowers are protected so there is a very small possibility of prosecution.

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By *he MuffinmanMan
over a year ago

West Gloucestershire

"My friend it seems we can’t do a thing nowadays without someone having to butt in with something to say.

I can’t get a bead on when society became so opinionated and so eager to want trouble with just about anyone.

A shocking and horrific clip was sent to me the other day in which a couple were SHOT after starting and argument with a man shovelling snow from one side of the street to the other.

What are we becoming I ask myself!?!"

I think it's because people are becoming more 'entitled', sanctimonious and the world revolves around them, unfortunately

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By *ecadent_DevonMan
over a year ago

Okehampton

Imagine. You know, throw yourself out there for just a moment that you were a young child, growing up in a block of flats in a grey dreary old town, your parents don’t have a pot to piss in. Everything is harsh, cruel and monochrome and then......

.....then one day, someway, somehow you are taken out to the countryside and your senses are lifted beyond the clouds by the colours, by the rolling hills and the clear skies, by the breathtaking freedom and borderless world.....

....your eyes full of joyful tears happen upon catkins and pussywillows, daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops and you can’t contain yourself and you scoop them all up, to have something for a memory, something to remember this day....

...and as you do, some middle class busy-body pulls up in a Range Rover and she climbs out yelling “stop, they don’t belong to YOU”

Grow a soul, step through the looking glass once in a while....

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

when we were kids we used to pick primroses, catkins and cowslips every year. Loads of people used to pick primroses and cowslips to make wine. It seems things have changed

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By *eoeclipseWoman
over a year ago

glasgow

I personally hate picking flowers & don't let my kids do it either for the reasons above plus

your killing the flowers for a few days decoration...

Once someone picks them, others pick them too...

It kills the flower & they don't return the next year...

And yes I'm a bit of a hippy

I'm sure if the bees had a vote they would sooner see the back of her and her car than me with my bike and bag. "

in my opinion you both are, her with emissions and you killing flowers. everything has opportunity costs which basically means what benefits one can harm another...its weighing up which..

not all flowers do grow back & if the same patch of flowers are picked over a course of years it means the seeds/bulbs etc are not going into the earth in that patch & regenerating them. (like the post above my first said.)

the bees probably like your bike but not picking the flowers just as must as they hate her car & like her for not picking the flowers.

The larger problem for the bees is things like

us insisting on have neat cut grass gardens which means all the clovers and daisies are killed & therefore their food.

mass use pesticides that many use kill off not only the bees but other vital insects in pursuit of what exactly? Nature doesn't have s or pests & has other plants which are natural pesticides...no need for chemicals like killer.

flowers grown commercially, picked before blooming for prettyness...bees miss out on food so the flower can die in a kitchen vase.

changing gardens into 'low maintenance' also means less flowers for the bees.

there are more of us every year so even picking a few flowers done by a few people in your area means very soon there are none & the bees miss out again.

Range rovers are far from nice to the environment especially if your not making an effort to offset your emissions, in the courtyside they are needed though for fields, weather and carry large items...(not that all are used for their working purpose though.)

The life time of my car's mileage equates to 'x' tress so that's one of the things I do.

I didn't say she was in the right btw. I personally hate picked flowers is all and i'm trying to explain it is a bigger problem than just a single person's actions, if you understand me. there is 8.8billion of us all doing similar so on a grand scale the effect is huge.

Change starts with you stuff

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