Follow this simple guide of how and when to plant snowdrops and get planting - it is such an easy way of establishing such a pretty carpet of flowers. Remember that it is illegal to dig up snowdrops in the wild!
According to the Theft Act of 1968 it is illegal to…
In general, the picking of wildflowers is not illegal, so long as you don't uproot the whole plant, do so with intention to sell them for profit or accidentally pick a plant found on the list of endangered species.
FOUR: digging up wild snowdrop bulbs is illegal. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, which covers the whole of the UK, it is illegal to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier.
' All snowdrop species are endangered and wild snowdrops are protected under law, which means that they must never be picked or lifted from their wild or existing habitat.
The best time to lift and move snowdrops is when they are dormant; i.e. after top growth has died back and before new root growth has begun - between June and late September for us. Lifted bulbs can be easily stored during this period in a shady cool corner and covered with a few centimeters of compost.
In Britain, it is illegal to "uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier”. Harvesting other parts such as leaves, flowers or seed is allowed. However, this does not apply to land designated a SSSI or National Nature Reserve, where it is illegal to pick any part of a plant.
The basic reason is their slow rate of increase which can generally be described as modest, at best. We are all probably familiar with the way a clump of daffodils gradually increases in size and becomes mostly leaves with few flowers. We dig it up and find a large ball of bulbs.
It's ok to gather seeds from flowers from meadows or hedges in the wild, as long as you do so in moderation, and only for your own use (not to sell)! However, it is against the law to remove or uproot the whole plant.
Wild flowers According to Dominic Price of wild plant protection charity Plantlife, "it is not normally an offence to pick the 'Four Fs' – fruit, foliage, fungi or flowers – if the plants are growing wild and it is for your personal use and not for sale." Dozens of rare or endangered plants – from the lady's slipper ...
It's against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells. Bluebells have soft, succulent leaves that are particularly sensitive to being trodden on. Once the leaves are damaged, they are unable to absorb the sun and photosynthesise, so they die back.
Snowdrops have no serious insect or disease problems and are deer resistant. However, there is a caution for pets and children: the plants are poisonous if ingested. Some gardeners also report skin irritation and recommend gloves when handling.
The insects are hungry and in need of food and snowdrops are one of the few sources of pollen and nectar available. Most snowdrops spread as the bulbs divide and create new bulbs but early flying bees visiting the flowers may pollinate them.
Snowdrops are a woodland plant, which means their ideal growing conditions are partial shade, moist but well-drained soil. This is important because if the soil is too dry, and the bulbs to dry out, there is a real risk they will fail the following year.
They are therefore symbols of the afterlife, which explains the old folklore that taking them indoors brings death into the house and why they are often grown in graveyards (such as St Botolph's in Swyncombe, Oxfordshire).
You need a licence to sell plants that are listed on: schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and taken after 30 October 1981. Annex IV b of the EU Habitats Directive and taken after June 1994 - this includes plants known as European protected species ( EPS )
All wild plants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). It is illegal to dig up or remove a plant (including algae, lichens and fungi) from the land on which it is growing without permission from the landowner or occupier.
Bloomscape says to fill a pot with fresh soil, making sure it's at least 3/4 full. Then take a cutting of a plant (which must include a node, as that's were the roots grow from), poke your finger a few inches into the soil, and place the cutting in the hole.
Bluebells are legally protected and it is against the law to dig them up from the wild. Make sure you ask your garden centre, nursery or online supplier to confirm the bulbs are cultivated, not wild–collected and also that they are both sourced and grown in the UK.
However, Rhododendron ponticum is listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means it is illegal to plant it in the wild or to allow it to spread from your property. Any prunings or waste material must be disposed of responsibly.
Deadly nightshade is one of the UK's most poisonous plants and just a couple of berries, which contain tropane alkaloids, would be enough to kill a person. "It is part of the tomato family," says Prof Barr. "It can be found in woodlands, though it is not quite as common as it used to be."
If you already have a clump of snowdrops you're willing to relocate from a bed to a lawn edge, wait until the flowers have faded, go in with your spade and dig the clump up, then separate the bulbs into individuals or small groups ready to replant.
