Fruit picking. 23 August 2015 at 10:16AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 7 replies 924 views

dori2o

What are the rules regarding fruit picking from 'unadopted' land.

The land behind our house is according to the council owned by the railway/metrolink (manchester tram system) but according to the railway/metrolink the land is unadopted, at least that was their response when we asked them to tidy the land as it is quite overgrown and has been used to fly tip in the past. It was also used by people to break into the lical tip prior to its closure.

There is a Damson and cherry plum tree on the land which have the best crop of fruit Ive seen in the 13 years we've lived here.

What rules or etiquette do I need to be aware of if I decide to pick some of the fruit?

moneyistooshorttomention

Etiquette is to take only a reasonable amount and leave enough for others to have a reasonable amount too.

PasturesNew

Just go and take what you need, not rob the lot. Make sure you leave the place as you find it, make no damage.

Worst case: Some jobsworth catches you and shouts "OI!!" and you smile and he says "Trespass!!" .... so you smile and say "Sorry, but I just live there and they looked so tempting. I didn't realise I wasn't allowed. I won't do it again". He'd then say "OK, make sure you don't" and he'd whistle on his jolly way

But, there won't be anybody shouting "OI!!"

REEN

Maybe take some to a local foodbank?

Last time I travelled on the Metrolink I noticed a lot of Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed growing by the tracks, so be careful. You don't want to brush past the hogweed, and you don't want the knotweed invading your garden!

bouicca21

Food banks don't take perishables. I'd just pick 'em.

moneyistooshorttomention

bouicca21 wrote: »

Food banks don't take perishables. I'd just pick 'em.

Some foodbanks do.

Always worth asking the one near you whether they do or no.

Farway

I would just pick them, leave some for others.

there is a roundabout near me, has loads of small yellow plums, [mirabels?] I pick what I need and leave the rest, which seem to be ignored and fall to ground

lisa110rry

I've never given this any thought. Each year I pick 10-12 lbs of sloes from hedges on a school property to make sloe gin. I just think of it as hedgerow forraging and I'm very jealous of what you have found.

Farway, Mirabels make wonderful plum brandy or plum vodka.