Walkers and outdoor enthusiasts have been warned picking wild daffodils could attract a £5,000 fine or even up to six months in jail.
Police and plant experts yesterday reminded us daffodils, among other flowers, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It means anyone enjoying the anticipated warm weather, including ramblers, must not pick daffs in public spaces.
These areas include Sites of Special Scientific Interest where efforts are maintained to preserve these flowers and others, such as bluebells, snowdrops, primroses, and wild orchids.
“Just picking just one or two flowers can still damage delicate ecosystems. The penalties protect the beauty and biodiversity of our countryside,” Josh Novell, a plant expert at Polhill Garden Centre in Sevenoaks, Kent, said on Wednesday.
The laws protecting flowers typically cover public parks, National Trust sites, nature reserves or gardens. On private land, the owner’s permission for picking is required. More often than not, there will be signage in the area indicating that the land is privately owned.
But the act of picking daffodils this time of year may seem innocent and, with temperatures exceeding 18C recently, the temptation may have been there for many to grab a handful of wild blooms to display at home.
Yet, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that: “If any person intentionally picks, uproots or destroys any seed or spore attached to any such wild plant; or not being an authorised person, intentionally uproots any wild plant not included in that Schedule, he shall be guilty of an offence.”
Under this act, police forces have the power to arrest citizens and this could subsequently lead to that person receiving a fine of up to £5,000 or a spell of up to six months in prison. There are various ways that you can enjoy daffodils without picking them and breaking the law, including:
These tips are useful to note – as temperatures are again expected to rise. The mercury is anticipated to reach 16C by Wednesday March 19, with the East Midlands expected to see the warmest spells. Looking further ahead, conditions are likely to be rather unsettled.
In relation to the long-range forecast, the Met Office says: “Confidence is low, but through the end of March changeable weather patterns are most likely. This means periods of unsettled, wet and windy weather interspersed with some drier and brighter spells. Into early April, there may be a transition to more frequent drier and more settled spells. Temperatures will probably be above average overall.”
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