A BBC expert has warned people they could face fines of £300 for picking blackberries. Foraging has become increasingly popular these days with even top restaurants collecting ingredients from local hedgerows.
And people across the UK love nothing more than picking fruit such as blackberries from roadside for a tasty treat, or to take back to use in puddings and jams. However lawyer Gary Rycroft told BBC Morning Live that people could in fact face the wrath of the law for the innocent pursuit.
Host Gethin Jones said: “I know this is something you actually quite enjoy doing yourself. for anyone heading out on a walk.”
Mr Rycroft said this is something he likes to do himself: “I’ve got to say it’s a bit of a family tradition to pick blackberries. My late grandmother used to do it, my mum does it, and I do like to go out in the morning with my dog. I don’t have breakfast before I walk the dog, and I forage for blackberries.
“I have just one or two blackberries while I’m out on a walk. Doesn’t it sound idyllic, but it really is. But you need to be careful because you could be in for a fine of £300 by blackberry picking. Under the theft Act; the four Fs, fruit, flowers, fungi, and foliage, you are allowed to collect those for personal use.
“So blackberries fall into that. You can collect them for personal use, you mustn’t sell them. And the key point is you’ve got to be careful. You can’t strip the plant. Why not? Because of course other creatures apart from humans and lawyers like blackberries: wild animals like them, birds like them.
“Foraging is fine as long as it’s careful and reasonable. Leave some blackberries for everyone else, including. The birds and the wildlife and you’re OK. So you don’t feel like you’re stealing from one or two the local birds? No, because I have one or two blackberries and there’s a whole bush covered in them that I leave behind and that’s absolutely fine, as we would expect.”
Experts at ecology consultancy Arbtech have warned that foragers must follow the rules to avoid breaking the law or damaging the environment. August, September and early October are the best months to pick blackberries, but Arbtech is urging pickers to do so responsibly, as hedgerows are a vital food source and habitat for wildlife, including birds, insects and small mammals. Stripping bushes bare or trampling surrounding vegetation can cause long-term harm to local ecosystems. It can also be a criminal offence if done so irresponsibly.
However, picking on private land without the owner’s consent could be classed as trespassing, and many protected areas such as nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and some Royal Parks have bylaws banning foraging altogether. If you get caught picking blackberries where you’re not allowed, it doesn’t matter how little you took, you could still face a fixed penalty which in some cases can range from around £100 to £300.
A spokesperson said : “Blackberry picking is a brilliant way to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature, but it’s important to remember that we’re not the only ones who rely on them.
“The golden rule is to pick lightly, leave plenty behind, and always check whether you’re allowed to forage in that spot because in some places it’s not just bad etiquette, it’s against the law!”