Is picking flowers in a park a crime?

March 23, 2011

Police in the UK had a message for a family enjoying some time outdoors in a local park - look, but don't touch the flowers.

"We were out in the park for two or three hours enjoying the sunshine," Jane Errington told The Telegraph. "The little ones had been riding their bikes, but after a while they got bored and went to play in the daffodils."

What happened next is what's in dispute. Errington says that her girls - Sienna, 4, India, 10, and Olivia, 6 - picked about 20 of the spring flowers.

"They weren't ripping up bunches and bunches, they are little girls with tiny little hands," Errington told the BBC.

A town councilor, Peter Adams, whose home overlooks the park, says that he watched the girls pick about 80 of the blooms. So he called the police.

"I am a reasonable person and would not have called the police if they were just picking two or three flowers, but this was totally disgraceful," Adams told The Telegraph.

He said that he called authorities because the flowers are meant for the public and that he felt that they were being vandalized.

"Had we known it was a criminal offense then we would not have let them do it," Errington told the BBC.

While picking flowers in public may be tempting, this incident shows that those who wish to enjoy the beauty of the blooms should consider purchasing a bouquet of their favorite spring flowers for themselves.

This article is brought to you by Teleflora - a leader in the flower delivery service for over 75 years. Teleflora helps its customers buy flowers online and specializes in bringing the freshest available flowers for a variety of holidays and occasions - all hand-delivered in keepsake vases by the best local florists.

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