With less than a month until spring, when a burst of colour appears in many of the UK's city and countryside parks, you may feel the urge to pick a flower or two on your way home.
However, as daffodils and other wildflowers begin brightening up the landscape, it's important to admire them without disturbing their natural habitat, as picking them could cost you a hefty £5,000 fine, warns Julian de Bosdari, CEO at Somerset plant nursery Ashridge. According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, picking, uprooting, or destroying certain wild plants without authorisation is illegal and can result in fines of up to £5,000 per offence.
“With the weather getting warmer as we head into spring, daffodils and other lovely wildflowers, such as bluebells and primroses, are once again coming back into season. It may seem tempting to gather them while spending the day outdoors, especially if you’re on a romantic outing, but doing so can harm the environment and lead to serious legal consequences,” observes de Bosdari.
"Respecting wildlife laws not only prevents you from breaking the bank and ruining your month but also helps preserve the beauty of the UK's landscapes, ensuring they remain enjoyable for everyone—and for a long time.” Besides daffodils, flowers such as bluebells, snowdrops, primroses, and wild orchids are also protected under the law, so you should keep your hands off them this spring.
The gardening expert warns that, while you should leave these flowers on the ground no matter where, the areas where picking flowers is prohibited include council-owned parks (such as Hyde Park in London and Heaton Park in Manchester), National Trust properties (including sites like the Lake District and Snowdonia), and nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (like Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and Studland and Godlingston Heath).
“Instead of picking the flowers, a better way to immortalise the moment is to take a photo of the landscape—hundreds or thousands of flowers blooming together will certainly look more beautiful than a single, withering flower in your hand,” suggests Julian de Bosdari.
“If you really want to bring spring home, consider planting them in your garden or in indoor vases. You can find and purchase different seeds, bulbs, and even bare-root species online or in physical shops—this way, you help preserve the environment for everyone while bringing colour and life to your home,”
