A BBC expert has cautioned that individuals could be hit with fines of £300 for picking blackberries. Foraging has seen a surge in popularity recently, with even high-end restaurants sourcing ingredients from local hedgerows.
Across the UK, people relish the simple pleasure of picking fruits like blackberries from roadside bushes for a delicious snack or to use in desserts and jams. However, lawyer Gary Rycroft informed BBC Morning Live viewers that this seemingly innocent activity could potentially land them in legal trouble.
Presenter Gethin Jones commented: "I know this is something you actually quite enjoy doing yourself. for anyone heading out on a walk."
Mr Rycroft confirmed his own fondness for the activity: "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."
Specialists at ecological consultancy Arbtech have cautioned that foragers must adhere to regulations to prevent breaching the law or harming the environment.
August, September and early October represent the optimal months for blackberry picking, yet Arbtech is encouraging harvesters to act responsibly, since hedgerows provide essential nourishment and shelter for wildlife, encompassing birds, insects and small mammals.
Completely clearing bushes or crushing nearby vegetation can inflict lasting damage on local ecosystems.
Such behaviour may also constitute a criminal offence when carried out recklessly. Nevertheless, gathering fruit on private property without permission from the landowner could constitute trespassing, and numerous protected locations including nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and certain Royal Parks have regulations prohibiting foraging entirely.
Should you be caught collecting blackberries in forbidden areas, regardless of the quantity taken, you could still receive a fixed penalty ranging from approximately £100 to £300 in some instances.
A spokesperson commented: "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!"