to take a few twigs and sprigs from the woods?

[OstentatiousBreastfeeder]

I'm feeling festive, so decided to make a wreath instead of buying one for the front door. I have a woods nearby my house so thought it would be a perfect place to find everything I need for free.

So out I go, thinking ahh lovely, nice morning stroll in the woods with DD - she can nap and I can amble around and pick some nice sprigs of holly and ivy.

About 20 minutes into our foraging a dogwalker saw me snipping some ivy that was hanging down from a tree. I smiled and said good morning, as you do. She frowned, then strode over to me and proceeded to tell me off for stealing cuttings from the woods, which is council property, before stomping off with her dog and muttering loudly. She seemed really irate and was quite rude even though I told her I was only taking what I intended to use

I was under the impression it was perfectly legal to take things home from the woods with you, bar some wildflowers which I believe have some sort of protection. I didn't think a bit of holly and ivy fell under this category.

WIBU?

(the wreath looks very pretty btw!)

[HesterShaw]

I have a holly tree in my garden. With berries.

I am the envy of everyone.

[HesterShaw]

And I did a lovely thing with it which I've never thought of before - cut sprays of it and put them in vases of water to stop them drying out and scattering icing sugar over the leaves to look like snow. In a warm room the sugar is slightly sticky and sticks to the leaves. Move over Kirsty...

[Buttercupsanddaisys]

Yep, move over Kirsty, make room for Bob Flowerdew, he's coming along right behind with his Felco secateurs and placcy bags at the ready...

[HesterShaw]

Is he the guy with the plait?