To wish people would stop their children picking wildflowers

[BigBirthdayGloom]

We've just walked home and seen several children with big bunches of bluebells and other flowers. As nice as it is for them, they'll not last long at home and those bunches have wiped out most of the bluebells on out little stretch of road. I do know its not earth shattering but I was always told to leave alone everything except daisies and dandelions and have passed the same onto my children.

I try and limit mine to daisies and dandelions which are very common although is did sit DD next to some daffodils to take a photo and she picked some (she's 16 months). Dandelions are widely regarded as weeds although the definition of a weed is subjective.
I think it's important to educate them about the importance of wildflowers.

Rather than picking flowers, why not learn what they are together? Take pleasure in the first time you spot each sort through the months.

Some of my happiest memories from childhood are of walks in the countryside to pick primroses, violets and cowslips. We only ever picked a couple of small bunches and there were loads left. It was an innocent pastime fgs! There were plenty each year so they must have grown again!

Some of my happiest memories were walks in the countryside with dad teaching me the names of flowers and showing me animal tracks
No picking involved.

Judging from this thread, maybe there were plenty of flowers for you to pick Ohanarama because most other people's parents were doing the right thing, and not letting their kids pick them!

Some are also skin irritants.....

DS2 picked a bluebell today. It was either that or a massive tantrum that would have spoilt the next hour, so I let him. Sorry.

Anyway, tis the bluebells fault for being such a nice colour.

I was not allowed to pick flowers when I was a child, I wouldn't let my children do it either.

YANBU, it is so easy to get them used to the fact that you just look.

"People in the 30' 40' and 50' and 60' picked primroses.What's so different?"
And that's why primroses were so scarce by the 70’s...

Luckily it's now illegal to pick them, or dig up the plants, so they are making a comeback - particularly on motorway embankments, where nobody can get at them.

If you let him do something he shouldn't rather than have a tantrum you are asking for trouble in the future.

I am over 60 years and we certainly were not allowed to pick wild flowers! My parents were very clear, they are for everyone to enjoy.

If he has a tantrum - tough!

I picked some wild garlic flowers this afternoon. Is that unreasonable, or since 'foraging' is a MC obsession, is that somehow alright?

Funny you mention that Plants as I was kind of thinking about that myself.

Tricky one isn't it?

I kind of worry that with the fashionable interest in foraging, people may not apply simple rules about only picking where there is abundance, and would could see a decline in edible plants.

I would rather people learnt without picking if there is no real need for free food to prevent starvation....

Those of you who allow children to pick.
Do you let them pick from gardens you are passing?

Me too Corus.

If you let him do something he shouldn't rather than have a tantrum you are asking for trouble in the future.

Seriously, I need to pick my battles at the moment - he is 3 and will argue with absolutely everything. On the school run I tend to stick to the basics of safety, manners and punctuality, rather than have a meltdown over picking a bluebell. I don't let him get away with everything, believe me.

Completely agree op.

I should add though, that I don't agree with picking lovely wildflowers and we try stick to dandelions and daisies 95% of the time.

Cake do you let him pick from gardens you are passing, or 'just' wildflowers?

I was taught it was wrong to pick wild flowers and I will be telling my son the same. I agree it is totally selfish behaviour plus those flowers are part of a habitat that attracts insects and wildlife. By destroying them you are interrupting the important food chain that goes on out of sight.

It is ok sometimes to say no to your children and guide them to find enjoyment in something less destructive.

I said he picked one single bluebell, so what do you think bloody?