Saw some holly in the woods the other day, ok to pick it for decorations?

[bytheMoonlight]

Is it ok to pick some? Do people do this? If so, whats a good way to display it?

When is the best time to pick?
With or without berries?

Any advice gratefully received

don't know if you are allowed, but i always rememeber going with my mum in the dark picking from the hedge row holly and things for her christams display, centre display for table all arranged in one of those foam things flower arrangers use and for the christmas wreath on the door. if it was in the woods i would just take a large reuseable bag and snip some off when no one was around, but then thats me and look what example my mum gave, in the dark getting it

I'm not sure you are allowed. I always try and get some for my fireplace garland but I do feel terribly guilty.

I was told last year (but don't know how accurate the info was) that as long as you're not going to sell it to make a profit then you can take some

Right lets suppose some holly had 'fallen onto the floor' .

I would need something to attach it to in order to display it? Where would I get them? What else would I need?

youneed wire and to spray it often with mater mist so it stays fresh. ask a florist?

It depends on what you have in mind as to what you need to get.

Making a holly wreath is hard work and you will get ripped to shreds by the thorns, I would strongly advise buying one ready made. Adding a few sprigs to a fir wreath is a much better option for a front door. Again, mixing sprigs of holly with ivy and fir can be complimentary in a florists foam arrangement for a table or on a mantelpiece, you could add baubles or fresh flowers, or pine cones.

Traditionally, evergreens were brought into homes to decorate on Christmas eve, so they were fresh and didn't suffer like our modern day ones from central heating and dehydration for 3 weeks before Christmas day. So you will need to give fresh holly a water source to keep it alive.

I would not pick the berries; they drop off and can be toxic to DC and pets if eaten, so I'd use fake berries with real holly. Plus we are likely to have another hard winter and the birds will need the berries for food.

You are allowed to pick mushrooms, apples, berries etc and foliage from public footpaths and woods so long as it is for personal use. You are not allowed to uproot plants so for example pulling up horseraddish is not allowed.

I know the stuff with berries is prettier but the berries are a very important source of food foro birds so I would cut holly without and have osme fake berries on wire to tie on and reuse each year.

That is so lovely to think of the birds, you have turned me. I will be pinching the leaves and adding fake berries from now on.

I will leave the berries for the birds then.

I don't fancy getting torn to pieces so I think a table arrangement is the best idea. I will try and google to see if I can come up with something I can manage

I'm not sure that's correct, indith. My local woodland is full of signs telling people that they may not remove any material (including sticks, logs and edible fungi).

Holly and Ivy behind all our pictures every Christmas in my house. My mother had a friend who thought she was a cut above us and told us it was a very common thing to do when I was a child. I have gleefully followed the tradition all my adult life!

I have two holly bushes in my back garden, one dark green and one variegated (gold with dark green borders on each leaf) There is also ivy on the fence. We put the hollies in ourselves, there are quite a few ornamental ones that you can get from nurseries and garden centres.

I once decorated a wreath with fake holly berries for outside my house, the birds tried to pick them off!

Sticks and logs I don't think are allowed. I always thought fungi was though, below a certain amount.

here you go yes you can pick for personal use unless there is a local bye law against it.

Ah, we must have a local bye law against it, then. Might be worth the OP checking that too, in that case.

If it is not your wood it does not belong to you. If it is a branch overhanging your garden fence you can cut it off but you must offer it to your neighbours as it remains their property.

DH (studied agriculture etc) says its ok as long as its common land, which most "woodland" is, but if it is just a public footpath on private land they are allowed to stop you as you only have right to access. Rule of thumb "is see 3 pick 1" so as to leave enough to live on, feed wildlife etc.

I have previously attempted to make a fresh holly wreath. Don't. A few fresh springs can be nice but it will murder your hands and you will need a small mountain

Hmmmm .... Will read the signs next time I go.

I'm shocked it could be considered common, I thought it was very traditional

higgle started a thread to find out if your mum's friend was right

here

Apparently she isn't!

Seconding MrsTwinks. All traditional wreath making bits (spruce, holly) will wreck your hands. Stuff like bay is much better!

I think it depends on who owns the woods. Mum and dad own two areas of woodland (with no ROW across them) and some bugger came and chopped great chunks off two lovely flame-shaped trees when the berries were out. I would feel a bit uncomfortable TBH but I guess it's onlya few sprigs you'd be OK.