With the start of spring well underway, Brits are spending more time outdoors in the sunny weather. Flowers have been seen blooming, painting the UK with a splash of colour as the landscape transforms away from the bleak winter period.
However, authorities have issued a stern warning to anyone who may be tempted to pick one of the many wild flowers seen popping up around Britain, as doing so could land you with a hefty fine. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to intentionally pick, uproot, or destroy certain wild plants without authorisation. Those caught could face fines of up to £5,000 per offence.
The law applies to various protected flowers, including five popular varieties often seen in fields and woodlands throughout the spring season. These are:
Restrictions are placed on these flowers meaning they cannot be picked from public spaces including parks, nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). For flowers on private land, removing certain plants without permission can still be illegal too.
Plants are deemed to be wild unless proven otherwise, in legal proceedings. According to Lancashire Police, plants growing in the wild are still the legal property of someone as they have been cultivated.
A spokesman from the force said: “A wild plant is an uncultivated plant that grows as nature intended in the wild.
“Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 the term ‘plant’ includes algae, lichens and fungi, mosses, liverworts and vascular plants.
“It is unlawful to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier.”
Josh Novell, gardening expert and director of Polhill Garden Centre, warns that not only is the action illegal, but picking these spring flowers is harmful to the environment.
He said: "It might seem harmless to pick a daffodil or two while on a walk, to take home for a loved one. But people don’t always realise that removing wild plants without permission is against the law. You could face fines up to several thousand pounds for doing so, particularly in Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
"Many people mistakenly believe that picking just one or two flowers is harmless, but this can still damage delicate ecosystems. In designated conservation areas like SSSIs, picking wildflowers without permission is taken very seriously and can lead to significant fines. The penalties are in place to protect the beauty and biodiversity of our countryside."
