to pick dandelions?

[Objection]

We have two rabbits and we're currently renovating our new house. Previous house meant they could have the whole grassy garden but currently our new garden is just paving stones so not much green for the bobbits.
On the way to work I walk past a huge green area that is covered in Dandelions so have taken to picking a load to take home for them.
I've seen a few threads recently up in arms over picking flowers calling it theft.
I've always thought of dandelions as weeds - am I wrong in picking them?

[PestoSunnyissimos]

I do this too, when out for walks, for our tortoises. Dandelions are pretty rampant, I wouldn't give it a second thought!

[WeAllHaveWings]

You do know picking dandelions will make you pee the bed (according to my mum)

[picnicbasketcase]

Dandelions and daisies are weeds, they spread on their own, it's fine to pick them. Daffodils or similar that have been planted, not okay to pick them.

[Foxred10]

Dandelions are weeds so I can't imagine anyone getting upset at you picking them. They might have been sprayed with selective weed killer, but as long as you wash the leaves well before you give them to the rabbits they should be fine....

[Objection]

weallhavewings - I did wonder why I kept doing that

[specialsubject]

please come and pick them in our garden, we've got plenty...

(is this what is attracting the sodding wild rabbits?)

[UriGeller]

Its true, French name for dandelions is pissenlit (piss the bed).

[chocolatespiders]

I go for walks for this sole purpose- rabbits love them I don't regard it as picking flowers!!!

[Objection]

Oh good. No one is going to run after me waving a stick then!

[chickydoo]

I pick them for my tortoise.... Very yummy for them, so I'm told.

[KatieKaye]

I'd be delighted to see you doing this, as it will stop the seeds flying around and then taking up residence in my garden (which is currently looking like a dandelion farm!)

[BankWadger]

Just be careful not to pick any that may have been sprayed with weed killer (or dog wee).

[EdithWeston]

Is the huge green area owned by someone? If it is, then you need their permission.

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

Ds1 loves them, he calls them DaddyLions. We don't have any in our garden, nor any daisies. How do i get them in it, does anyone know? Daises are my very favourite flower, but it has to be the common ones which grow in the grass

[Suefla62]

Chilterns seeds have them, they're called English Lawn Daisies.

[Fathertedfan]

Sheeps parsley is shooting up now. Bet they'd like that too!

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

Brilliant, thanks Suefla

[alltoomuchrightnow]

my mum gets them everywhere she goes, for the family tortoise.. they get a good wash though.

[TillyTellTale]

Dandelions aren't cultivated plants, they're not a protected species, and you're not digging them up.

If they were bluebells or council daffodils, and you were picking them or worse, digging them up, it would be theft.

I think it would be theft to pick them from a park or community land, but no-one is going to prosecute someone for picking dandelions, although they might if you were caught picking the pansies.

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q641.htm

www.theguardian.com/law/2011/mar/16/rules-picking-wild-flowers

[Marylou62]

Oh...thought I'd be really funny and tell you that it will make you wet the bed...but someone got there first! I genuinely thought this was true when I was a child!

[AwfulMaureen]

I've always picked them as a kid and now DD does. When I was little they used to get called "Wee the beds" I assume because they're a diuretic....funny how the old herbal folklore survived into the 70s really.

[AwfulMaureen]

Oh I see it's already discussed! Well they're called Wee the Beds because the leaves contain a diuretic...they do increase urination....it's a remedy for water infections.

[hugoagogo]

I can confirm that they taste nasty.

[CaffeinatedKitten]

My garden is dandelion central. My friend raids it for her chickens as they like them too.