Foraging in public parks

Karen_D · Post: # 49439Post **Karen_D** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:45 pm

Just noticed that the park that backs onto our allotments has a couple of hazel trees in it. There are no squirrels around (the park is mostly taken up with football pitches and children's play area rather than lots of trees, etc) so I wouldn't be starving them if I helped myself to the nuts.

What's the legal position on this? Is it okay or do I have to brave the local Homeless Orphans [1] and do an SAS type raid in the middle of the night?

Wassail

Karen

[1] So called because they never seem to belong to any of the parents around here. Perhaps it's a government plot and they bus them in special from unspecified "rough areas" to commit random acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour...

Karen_Grace · Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:20 pm

Hi Karen

There may be other wildlife around that eat the nuts, but if there are a lot of unopened shells on the floor from previous years its probably safe to assume nothing else is eating them.

I dont know how you stand legaly, but I always assumed it was ok to take windfalls.

9ball · Post: # 49530Post **9ball** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:35 am

This might be worth looking at (particularly the WCA part), as far as I can see as long as your not collecting to sell the nuts it's fine.

Tom

Karen_D · Post: # 49563Post **Karen_D** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:09 pm

9ball wrote:This might be worth looking at (particularly the WCA part), as far as I can see as long as your not collecting to sell the nuts it's fine.

Tom

Thanks for that. As I wouldn't be taking a whole plant, just some nuts if available, I think I should be okay.

Wassail

Karen

Silver Ether · Sun May 20, 2007 2:40 pm

funny isnt it how we worry about foraging and the law ... no one says a thing when your blackberrying ..

ina · Post: # 58000Post **ina** » Sun May 20, 2007 5:11 pm

Silver Ether wrote:funny isnt it how we worry about foraging and the law ... no one says a thing when your blackberrying ..

Don't be so sure about that! A man got into trouble with the police for just that - I think it was last year, have to see if I can find the note.

mrsflibble · Wed May 23, 2007 2:24 pm

it's ok so long as you're not forraging and then selling either your collection or things made with your collection for profit.

ina · Post: # 58437Post **ina** » Thu May 24, 2007 6:30 am

Silver Ether wrote:funny isnt it how we worry about foraging and the law ... no one says a thing when your blackberrying ..

Better wear a balaclava next time you are out!

http://wildgarlic.forumup.co.uk/viewtop ... wildgarlic

Silver Ether · Thu May 24, 2007 7:23 am

ina wrote:
Silver Ether wrote:funny isnt it how we worry about foraging and the law ... no one says a thing when your blackberrying ..
Better wear a balaclava next time you are out!

http://wildgarlic.forumup.co.uk/viewtop ... wildgarlic

Too late

to well known ... the wardens come to see what I have in my bags a the local spot where I gather ... mind you I do sweeten themup with the odd jar of jam/ jelly or really treat em ... medler jelly

Yo could also try asking he park wardens... last year while in a city park that we go to I spotted a lot of lovely quince so asked ... I had to hang around while they checked with the head warden and he was fine as long as a( i didn`t strip the plant ... very silly thing to do anyway and b) could they try the end product as he for one had never tried anything quince

forager educates the masses

baldowrie · Post: # 58467Post **baldowrie** » Thu May 24, 2007 8:41 am

Ina

A man got into trouble with the police for just that

I know of a certain estate that likes to report people for blackberry picking!

w.f.specialist · Thu May 24, 2007 10:42 am

If you dso see plenty of hazel trees with grey squirrels hanging around shoot the little bastards and eat them. After all they are vermin and taste good.
Don't be all airy fairy and go ahhhhh poor little squirrel either. Think of the damage they do.

bogit & legit · Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:10 pm

ina wrote:
Silver Ether wrote:funny isnt it how we worry about foraging and the law ... no one says a thing when your blackberrying ..
Don't be so sure about that! A man got into trouble with the police for just that - I think it was last year, have to see if I can find the note.

i dont think you can get into trouble as long as you dont do any damage,i think this is the same on private land too,but dont quote me on that.

steve

Silver Ether · Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:19 pm

I think you should use common sense too ... we were in Welsh Wales the last couple of days and I came across the biggest and juicies blackberries I have ever seen... my fella said well not collecting ...

nope as they were sort of on a property but not quite and I thought if I lived ther I would be very upset if they were picked by someone ... the same with some kinda wild damsons ... they could be no ones but there was just a chance they were ...

they were so nice too so if you live in Carrog by the Grouse Pub ... you know I was good and not greedy

mrsflibble · Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:48 pm

baldowrie wrote:
I know of a certain estate that likes to report people for blackberry picking!

it's not Noak Bridge is it?!?!??!

hoomin_erra · Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:21 pm

There's an abandoned property near me, that has an old walled garden. It's all sealed up apart from one small opening. There are about 4 Wild Pears, 15 Apples af different varieties, 3 Plums, and 2 Wild Plums. There is also loads of Elderflower, and bramble all over the place. Unfortunately, it is very overgrown with trees and vines, and this is affecting and killing the fruit tree's.

There ia a very old and faded sign saying "Private Property". Am i pushing it by harvesting the fruit tree's, and thinking of going in there with a saw and helping them flourish?

And maybe plant a few veggies?

Do i approach the owners and ask permission? (And probably get warned off.)
Or do i keep SHHHHHH and do it anyway.