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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think someone should not be picking daffodils in public areas that are for everyone to enjoy?

70 replies

diamondlizard · 15/03/2014 16:03

been to a kids party today and on the way there i commented on how nice it is when the suns out and the daff etc are out

on way home someone a young womam was picking a massive bunch

these are the sort of daffs that are in the middle of a village on the side of the road

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/03/2014 16:55

Yes wild flower picking isn't the same thing.

Although to be fair, if everyone did it there would be none left to admire when you're walking in the woods.

hunreeeal · 15/03/2014 16:57

YANBU

NightCircus · 15/03/2014 17:00

Don't get it. They're cheap to buy- 5bunches for £1 at our greengrocer!
That said DS did pick one whilst I was chatting recently, but he is 4 and was told not to adding

Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 15/03/2014 17:00

I wish more people would pick them.

I have a severe autoimmune condition which is made worse by hay fever, and my local council plant masses of flowers in the park. I can't go there for very long in summer, the flowerbeds cause arguments as children and dogs go in them and get told off, and the thought that I have to pay for this depresses me.

I'd rather they spent they money on improvements to the play park, and more bushes and dog dirt bins, then everyone who actually uses the park would be happy.

AtYourCervix · 15/03/2014 17:04

Daffs are s bit of a pathetic thing to nick really. They don't fight back. Gnomes are a much more satisfying steal.

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2014 17:10

the flowerbeds cause arguments as children and dogs go in them and get told off

Good! The parents and owners should keep them out of them.

ilikeyourface · 15/03/2014 17:17

I must admit, I clicked onto this thread thinking 'off course you can pick daffs!' But after reading all replies I have completly changed my veiws! I cant believe I Didnt even click that you shoulnt do it!

Original poster
diamondlizard · 15/03/2014 17:20

wouldnt dogs wee kill them?

it does kill grass

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/03/2014 17:22

Only over a period of time.

I've got a dog and daffs in my garden

lessthanBeau · 15/03/2014 17:30

haha I was wondering about this very thing last week, where I walk my dog is a track , peoples gardens back onto it, ,some of the owners dispose of their garden waste (trimmings etc) onto the edge of the track, there are trees and bushes bordering the track, and this stuff mulches down, now along with their mulch is usually a fair old crop of their old daffodil bulbs(usually thickest where you can see that the gardens have newish garages built in them , so you know they are from the dig out of foundations, they then sprout up every year down the track, what about picking these, yay or nay? I was in two minds about it, they have been thrown away, they have not been planted by the council , I wanted to pick some but didnt want people to think I had picked them from the council planted beds that I then have to walk past to get home?

kentishgirl · 15/03/2014 17:37

Picking wild flowers is even worse!

It's illegal, since the The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. Many wild flowers are specifically protected due to rarity. All land belongs to someone - you are stealing. Many country park type sites are SSIs which have additional protection. The countryside code states 'Respect and protect local wildlife, plants and trees. Do not pick wild flowers.'

Enough reasons for you?

lessthanBeau · 15/03/2014 17:41

are thrown away daffodils wild flowers? the track belongs to the council. I havent picked them btw!

kaizen · 15/03/2014 17:44

We have a family whose children slide down a grassy bank and crush all the daffs. It's quite a posh area too. The bluebells get crushed too. Lovely.

southeastastra · 15/03/2014 17:45

i am bored of the daffs, they are planted with such efficiency not let to grow ad hoc annoys me for some reason

Salmotrutta · 15/03/2014 17:55

I totally agree with kentishgirl!

You should not pick wild flowers - they are protected and whoever it was up thread saying they let their child pick them because they think that's okay is wrong.

We have many endangered species of wild flowers so please don't do this.

If everyone took the view "but I'm only picking a few" then it wouldnt take long to wipe them out completely.

And you shouldn't be picking the council flowers either!

HadABadDay2014 · 15/03/2014 18:14

Going to stop as I didn't know the flowers DD picks is illegal, thanks for letting me know.

Groovee · 15/03/2014 20:26

Its been hard work at work trying to explain to 3 and 4 year olds that they aren't to pick our flowers. Its really horrible to see whats left of them because the children just pick the heads Sad

ikeaismylocal · 15/03/2014 20:57

I used to be allowed to pick the daffodils that the dogs knocked over. There were lots of daffodils in our local park but people let their dogs run through them so often lots of them were broken.

I had picked up a few half dead daffodils to give to my mum, I was about 6. A lady came and shouted at me and told ne she was going to call the police. I sobbed and sobbed so hard that I was struggling to breath ( I was a sensitive child) the lady took me to my mum who was sitting in the cafe my mum explained I only took the ones that were completly on the ground and the lady was very sorry for shouting at me and bought me an icecream.

I don't think I'd let ds pick flowers even if they were dieing but I can see the logic behind my mum's reasoning.

drnoitall · 15/03/2014 21:01

It's very annoying seeing flowers picked because they are often abandoned by little children further up the road anyway.
I do not let my dc pick them because they belong to someone, just because we don't know who, doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

Finola1step · 15/03/2014 21:02

Yes LRD I remember last year's thread too. I have taught my dc to just look at, smell, maybe v gently touch any flowers they like the look of. But no picking (except daisies, not sure why - possibly because I view them more as a weed).

No picking flowers in the park, along the road, in our garden or anyone else's. Let it grow, flourish and die back to grow again.

Nocomet · 15/03/2014 21:04

Coffeethrowtrampbitch insect pollinated flower bed flowers are very unlikely to bother your hay fever unless you actually roll in them.

It's inconspicuous wind pollinated flowers and grasses that are the normal culprits.

Nocomet · 15/03/2014 21:05

Also beware freshly mown grass, which gives off something DSIS has a real problem with.

HadABadDay2014 · 15/03/2014 21:06

Daisy are ok as they tend to get destroyed by the lawnmower.

Daisy chains are fun to make.

Cyclebump · 15/03/2014 21:07

YANBU

I live opposite a park and DH and I fume every year at the number of people who allow and encourage their children to pick the daffodils. Last week DH saw three kids come out of the park with a large bunch each as their mother proudly said how lovely it was that they'd picked them for her, it took a lot of effort not to get ranty at her.

Finola1step · 15/03/2014 21:07

I like your thinking Had

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