Digging up wild garlic - please don't, and it's illegal...

[Amanda Guitar]

I came across a woman in Sydenham Woods last weekend busily digging up a wild garlic plant "to plant in my garden". When I asked to stop because in the woods everyone could enjoy them and explained that it was against the law she said airily "I don't think it is".

So owner of the great dane or anyone who knows her, here's the thing...

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is unlawful to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier. To uproot (digging) a plant means to 'dig up or otherwise remove the plant from the land on which it is growing', whether or not it actually has roots. Even plants growing wild are the legal property of somebody as they have been cultivated and under the Theft Act, 1968, it is an offence to uproot plants for commercial purposes without seeking authorisation.

[DollyDee]

I know nothing of the law regarding this, but you say "it is an offence to uproot plants for commercial purposes without seeking authorisation". Does that mean it is ok to uproot for non-commercial purposes?

[Louisa]

No decent excuse for digging up any plants in shared spaces.

Louisa.

[ianr]

My first reading of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is that the uprooting is, as Amanda says, an offence, under s.13(1)(b). Section 13(2) makes trying to sell it a separate offence. Wild garlic doesn't seem to be on the Protected list in Schedule 8. If it were, that would make even picking it an offence. The Act distinguishes 'uprooting' and 'picking'. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69/part/I/crossheading/protection-of-plants. I don't know about any specific Theft Act provision.

[JoeLeg]

Just asked a professional forager I know about this matter. He said the leaves are fine to pick, so long as they?re not on private land, but taking the bulb is a big fat no-no, ?both legally and morally?.

[kristymac1]

Louisa Wrote:

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> No decent excuse for digging up any plants in

> shared spaces.

>

> Louisa.

This^^

[macutd]

WOW!! I bet the police will be rushing up to the woods to chase the wild garlic nicker. NOT

[Robert Poste's Child]

Plus with all the dog poo that's not picked up and dogs running around loose peeing everywhere (people too, let's be honest), you're taking a risk picking anything at ground level in there.

[Sue]

Also, the patch of wild garlic is in a fenced-off section of the wood, isn't it (though it is near the fence).

At least, it was a year or so back.

[BrandNewGuy]

On Twitter, Sydenham Hill Wood and the Wildlife Trust have made it quite clear:

"Hi, please be aware that visitors do not have permission or rights to forage wild garlic or other plants in Sydenham Hill Wood or Dulwich Wood. This plant is an ancient woodland indicator and its populations are recovering across both sites. Please do not forage wild plants."

I despair at the thoughtlessness of many urban "foragers".

[JohnL]

Just buy some if you want some for the garden

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=wild+garlic+plants&index=aps&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_69k22jpid4_b&adgrpid=54736706538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=259071934291&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8401550895387626672&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045882&hvtargid=kwd-488364111512

[heartblock]

Garlic chives are also a nice alternative for the garden or a window box. Tasty leaves and flowers - just sow a packet of seeds. They grow back every year.

[Huggers]

I've got loads of wild garlic, it's suffocated everything else in the garden. PM me if you want a small clump

[JohnL]

Huggers Wrote:

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> I've got loads of wild garlic, it's suffocated

> everything else in the garden. PM me if you want a

> small clump

Bluebells and Garlic together are great in the woods.... but maybe not if it takes over the garden.

[Robert Poste's Child]

I think she's right and I admire her for having the guts to challenge the woman. So there.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Troll.

[JohnL]

Where I grew up there was almost infinite garlic in the woods - but here there aren't enough woods and it's definitely finite. City living needs people to be considerate.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Strongcoffee Wrote:

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> Not at all,

> I like a debate,

> We?re all entitled to opinions,

> As long there not hate or violence,

> Your response tells me volumes.

I assumed you were just here to troll after reading a number of recent posts from you, all of which were heavy-handed, jeering put-downs. I didn't see any that looked like discussion or debate, but I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

[Louisa]

Strongcoffee Wrote:

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> What?s all this ?troll? nonsense?

> Why are people so sensitive?

> Arguing, discussions, are all part of life.

> If your hurt by somebody?s opinion,

> That hurts or doesn?t agree with your views.

> Then why comment with a nasty word ?troll ?

Don?t worry about it Strongcoffee, it?s part and parcel of the EDf experience. I?ve been called a troll for years, Water off a ducks rear nowadays.

Mind you, for some on here, if the cap fits.....

Louisa.

[Administrator]

Please talk about the subject and not each other.

[Penguin68]

Easy to obtain - no need to steal...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=wild+garlic+plant&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=185283325851&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11048507067220586909&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045890&hvtargid=kwd-11090859189&ref=pd_sl_70uu18m31k_b

https://www.naturescape.co.uk/product/wild-garlic-ramsons-in-the-green/

https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/allium-ursinum/classid.2000031122/

http://www.gardensupplydirect.co.uk/wildflower_bulbs_in_the_green_other/wild_garlic_in_the_green__allium_ursinum_ramsons/12983_p.html

[DulwichFox]

I watch a lot of cookery programs on TV. They are always going on about Wild Garlic

and Encouraging people to forage.

They emphasize it's everywhere it's FREE .. Go for it.

Can't say I would know where to look or what it even looks like. ??

DulwichFox

[Penguin68]

I think that's foraging for leaves, not digging up entire plants. And only where you can forage (not someone's garden for instance or other cultivated area.)

[spark67]

I've had some pop up naturally in my font garden awhile ago... so best keep my location secret before its overrun with urban foragers gagging for some wild garlic pesto for their kids packed lunches (not far from the woods so possibly seeded from there)

To be honest if you dig up whole plants from somewhere thats not your property, you either feel you're very entitled or are just plain ignorant .... some git pulled up an acer from my front garden a couple of years ago so I'm probably just biased and bitter.

(sings let it go whilst rocking back and forth)

[malumbu]

Cycling down the Thames path I saw a small group of 'motley' people. They were picking wild rocket and (can't remember the other plant) and we had a nice chat about foraging. I say motley as they were from all over the world and where foraging was much more common.

When I stayed in Sweden we foraged wild strawberries, redcurrants and chantrelles. Small population lot of wild spaces.

Not the organised gangs that pick forests bear of wild mushrooms for the trendy greengrocers.

Anyway advice on (a) when to plant wild garlic (bulbs or clumps) (b) what to plant in my own garden (wild strawberries?)