Why is it illegal to remove bluebells?

Bluebells are an essential part of our natural heritage. Almost half the world's bluebells are found in the UK and colonies of this delicate wild flower take a long time to establish – around five to seven years from seed to bloom. They're considered so important that they're a protected species in the UK.

Why is it illegal to dig up bluebells?

Bluebells in danger

Spanish bluebells were brought to this country as an ornamental flower for gardens. They have since crossbred with the English variety, leading to native bluebells now being a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It is now illegal to dig up an English bluebell.

Is it illegal to pick bluebells on private land?

Threats and conservation

The bluebell is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). This means digging up the plant or bulb in the countryside is prohibited and landowners are prohibited from removing bluebells from their land to sell.

Can I remove bluebells from my garden?

Where shoots appear from among clumps of low-growing garden plants, carefully insert a garden fork to its full depth close to the shoot. Work the handle of the fork to loosen the bulb then, grasping the shoot, gently ease the bulb out of the earth.

Can I pick bluebells in my own garden?

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.

How do I get rid of invasive Spanish bluebells?

What is the penalty for picking bluebells?

But, with many of us heading outside for walks during lockdown, households are reminded not to pick any of the beautiful blooms from forbidden areas. Online garden centre, Gardening Express, is reminding Brits that picking flowers, such as bluebells or daffodils, could result in imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000.

Is it illegal to collect bluebell seeds?

In the UK, native bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) which prohibits anyone from picking or destroying the flowers, digging up the bulbs, or collecting bluebells from the wild for sale.

Can I cut down bluebells?

After flowering has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. If they are naturalised in grass, avoid mowing until the leaves have fully died back. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulbs for the future.

Are bluebells safe to touch?

The bulbs are easily mistaken for spring onions or garlic. Bluebell sap is believed to cause dermatitis and skin irritation. All varieties of bluebells contain glycosides, and therefore all varieties are poisonous.

Can you dig up bluebells?

Always try to buy native English bluebells rather than Spanish or hybrid ones which can take over in a garden and escape into the countryside. It's illegal to pick or dig up wild bluebells so make sure your new plants have been cultivated by a reputable source and that they haven't been imported from abroad.

What plants are illegal to pick in UK?

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 the term 'plant' includes algae, lichens and fungi, mosses, liverworts and vascular plants. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is unlawful to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier.

What flowers are you not allowed to pick?

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 ...

When did it become illegal to pick bluebells?

Since 1998 it has been illegal for anyone to collect native bluebells from the wild for sale. This legislation was designed specifically to protect bluebell from unscrupulous bulb collectors who supply garden centres.

Is it unlucky to pick bluebells?

In some parts of the country it is thought unlucky to take bluebells into the house, although it is actually illegal to pick wildflowers. However, not everything associated with this beautiful wildflower is quite so forbidding; in the language of flowers, the bluebell stands for constancy.

Is it illegal to plant Spanish bluebells in your garden?

Hybrids are also able to hybridise with the native bluebell. While Spanish and hybrid bluebells are not on the Government's list of invasive plants, the charity Plantlife recommends that you don't grow them if you live near a native bluebell colony, for example near a woodland.

Are English bluebells invasive?

Do make sure that you do it with English bluebells and not Spanish. The English bluebell, which hangs just down on one side, and we think of as a carpet in woodland, is not too invasive." "Whereas, the Spanish bluebell, which hangs on both sides and is bigger and generally more robust, is truly, truly invasive.

What are the symptoms of bluebell poisoning?

All parts of these plants contain scillarens which are cardiac glycosides similar in structure to those of foxglove (Digitalis species). Clinical signs of toxicity are generally gastrointestinal (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea) and cardiac (bradycardia, tachycardia, arrhythmias).

Are bluebells an invasive species?

Spanish Bluebell - Invasive Species Information

Reproduction: Spanish bluebell's seed freely and often hybridize through insect polination. The Spanish bluebell has hybridised frequently with the native common bluebell and the resulting hybrids are regarded as invasive.

Does anything eat bluebells?

Cattle and deer feed on the leaves of the bluebells and also damage them by crushing them. starch found in the bulbs to stiffen their ruffs . The Lesser Celandine is native to Europe including the British Isles, the Caucuses and Northern Africa, and has also been introduced to North America.

What's the difference between English bluebells and Spanish bluebells?

Below is a brief illustrative guide to help you tell the difference. Native bluebells have relatively thin leaves, around 1-1.5cm wide. Spanish and hybrid-Spanish bluebells tend to have much thicker leaves, around 3cm wide. The leaves of the Spanish and hybrid-Spanish bluebell often have a fleshier feel to them.

How long do bluebells last?

Depending on the weather, the bluebell season can last a couple of weeks, generally appearing first in the south of Britain, where it tends to be warmer before sweeping across the country to finish the season in Scotland and the north.

How long do bluebells stay in flower?

Bluebells usually flower from late March to early May, but it does vary from year to year. They are one of the last spring flowers to bloom before the woodland canopy closes up and new leaves block out the sunlight.

How do you get rid of bluebells without digging?

Lay the bulbs out on sheets of cardboard where they'll get full sunlight for a month. After they've dried up from the sunshine, pile all the bulbs in a black plastic bag and toss it under the deck or behind a bush until next spring.

Are bluebells toxic to cats?

Although these thoughts are lovely, bluebells are highly toxic to humans, dogs, cats, horses and cattle. They contain scillaren, a glycoside that can cause irregular heartbeat.

Are pink bluebells rare?

All three bluebell species can be found in pink or white versions. These occur as rare natural mutations but are often propagated and sold by the nursery trade.