Why is picking bluebells illegal?

Threats and conservation Bluebells can take years to recover from the damage caused by trampling, and if their leaves are crushed they can be weakened (as they can no longer photosynthesise). The bluebell is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

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.

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.

What is the fine for picking bluebells?

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.

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.

6 Things You May Not Know About Bluebells 😮

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.

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.

Is it illegal to pick snowdrops?

Under the 1981 Act It is unlawful to intentional pick, uproot or destroy the wild plant or any seed or spore attached to the wild plant.

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.

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 ...

Can you walk through bluebells?

Bluebell bulbs are easily damaged by trampling so they can't produce enough energy to flower and reproduce in subsequent years. Areas of high footfall can even cause entire colonies to die out. Help us to look after them by sticking to paths and avoid treading on or near bluebell plants.

What's the difference between Spanish and English 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.

Do bluebells come back every year?

Do bluebells flower every year? Bluebells are perennials which means they flower annually. They spend the spring soaking up energy from the sunshine and store the energy in their bulb over winter, waiting to bloom again.

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 plucking flowers illegal in UK?

“Uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier” - This means, literally, that it's illegal to “dig up” a wild plant (that doesn't belong to you). Picking any part of the plant is legal so long as you don't uproot the entire plant. Pick flowers from a special conservation site or reserve.

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 collecting wild flower seeds illegal UK?

Collecting wildflower seed

Uprooting a plant is harmful and illegal without the consent of the landowner or occupier. Gathering seed carefully and in moderation does little damage and is simple to do.

Can I pick Spanish bluebells?

Native bluebells are protected by law. Spanish bluebells are not protected so you can dig them up!

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.

Is collecting wildflower seeds illegal?

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.

Why can't you pick daffodils?

It is illegal to pick daffodils from any park, roundabout or verge that's maintained by a council or community organisation. However, if fruit, foliage, fungi or flowers are growing wild and are to be picked for your personal use only, it's not normally an offence to do so.

Is it illegal to pick cow parsley?

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.

What to do with bluebells once flowered?

Give them a light feed with a granular general plant food after flowering. Watering with a liquid plant food after flowering and until the foliage starts to die down will help build up their strength and size for the following year's flowering.

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.

Where are the most bluebells in the world?

However, almost half the world's bluebells are found in the UK as they're relatively rare in the rest of the world. In most of southern England, they dominate large areas of ancient woodland.