Is it illegal to pick elderflowers?

dbs

Thinking of making my own elderflower cordial is it illegal to pick the flowers off the trees?

There are plenty in the countryside and if I did this I would only pick two flowers from one tree at a time.

dniester007

I'm not sure it's illegal. I pick lots of the berries in late summer. There are always loads of elderflower berries in the countryside in late summer, and no one seems interested!

By the way, elderflowerflowers tea, with a bit of the leaf, is a good cure for allergies!

Tashja

If anybody has the recipie for Elderflower Cordial please can they post it here

Thanks :j

T xx

jenniferpa

Here's a link for elderflower cordial
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/elderflowercordial_6465.shtml

I remember making elderflower champagne once. That's quite pleasant, and suprisingly bubbly.

Jennifer

P.S. Make sure you pick the flowers away from an area that might have been sprayed with pesticide, and wash well.

mgardner

Hi

I have never heard that it is illegal. Years ago we used to just go and help ourselves to these, as I still do with blackberries.

I really wouldn't worry about this, Good luck. Sorry I don't have a receipe for cordial only wine.

redux

borrowed from my Mum

pro rata, usually more than this made in one of those plastic bin things with a tap at the bottom

Pick them around midday/early afternoon on a sunny day

100 flower heads - remove green stalks
100 g citric acid
4 litres of granulated sugar (brown is ok, but then it looks odd colour)
4 lemons
3 litres of water

Rinse flowers or pick clean

Boil water, stir in acid, sugar, lemon rind and juice

Pour hot over flower heads, cover with cling film and leave for 5 days. Strain

This is concentrated; then dilute about 5 to 8 times to taste

del_boy_

my nan picks them and she has never been caught best to do it when no ones looking

Edinburghlass_2

Website regarding protected plants.

http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/wfsoc/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm

beer2006

Of course its not illegal to pick the flowers off the trees.

Try not to pick them, as someone said where they might have been sprayed, or off the side of a busy road.

Only pick them at the right time, when they are fully open and the smell is almost overpowering, don't pick then if they look like they have gone over.

And don't wash them

NigeWick

Taking whole plants can be illegal, but not necessarily just flowers or fruit/seeds, unless it's on private property. It all depends on the circumstances.

Nigel.

thriftlady_2

I pick elderflowers and elderberries every year and it's never occured to me that it might be illegal.Blackberrying surely is the same thing and that can't be illegal.

There are many cookbooks around these days that recommend picking elderflowers.Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall,Jimmy Doherty spring to mind.The classic book on collecting wild food is Food For Free by Richard Mabey.
HTH