Wildlife law

The main protection for wildlife in Great Britain comes from the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, with some updates under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act.  These acts outlined a number of plant and animal species that need protection.  There are classifications of important wildlife sites which are protected, but very often threatened species do not stay within the boundaries of nature reserves. The main points of the law protecting species can be learnt very easily:

Not all wild flowers are protected. For these it is not illegal to pick small amounts, but it is anti-social to do so.  You should certainly never pick wild flowers unless there will always be plenty left for others to enjoy, nor should you ever uproot any plant. The best course of all is not to touch wild flowers or other plants at all.  

The same rule applies to wild fruit or wild mushrooms. These are the property of the landowner, but you may be able to pick certain fruit for your own use, although not to sell, without risk of prosecution. The custom of blackberrying for example, is very strong in some areas. These should be picked from bushes along a Right of Way so as to avoid trespassing.

There are a number of different types of habitats that are protected under the law in Britain, the most well known being Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). Any potentially damaging operations, such as ploughing or drainage on SSSI’s have to be approved by English Nature.  Local nature reserves are notified and maintained by the Local Authority or local Wildlife Trust.

Some Country Parks and local parks will have local Bylaws that will need to be respected. These are normally displayed at principal entrances to the sites.