Theft of plants!!

Im so cross! I was sat at my study window and i just watched a man walk down my street and bend down to look at a lovely primula vulgaris in the bank opposite my house. This plant, which was sent to me by someone on this forum last year, has been lovingly nutured and is now well established and thriving, and is one of the nicest examples of this plant I have seen. Its a spot of colour amongst a see of nettles and brambles and I love looking at it, so I wasnt suprised to see someone else admiring it. Then, with a swift glance over his shoulder, he whips out a trowel and hoiks it out. Anyway I yelled at him and he made a few excuses about giving it a good home, before putting it back. Im so upset - i know its silly , its only one plant and not even on my property, but I had hoped that eventually the whole bank could be transformed into a mini spot of countryside in the middle of what is quite a run down sea of tarmaq, for the enjoyment of everyone. Anyway the poor plant lost a lot of its roots, so i have replanted it in a pot in the garden until it recovers, but i dont think it will enjoy the conditions so much. Im concerned that if i put it back, he will return (this clearly was premeditated, why else would you be carrying a trowel at night in a urban area). anyone got any ideas how i can protect my baby . a small (but extremely high voltage) electric fence? or quit my job and stand guard with the hose? anyway rant over, thanks for listening.

 

WHAT A PLONKER HE WAS..SO SORRY TO HEAR YOU HAD SOCH A DOPE IN YOUR AREA..SO GLAD YOU CAUGHT HIM ,,NOT SO SURE WHAT YOU CAN DO THOUGH AS THERE ARE PLENTY ABOUT...THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SHOVE HIS TROWEL UP HIS A##:eek::thumb:

 

i have simple policy
you tocha my stuff i tocha ya face

 

That's really appalling Messypup some people think nothing of swiping stuff off others and I can't believe the guy came armed with a trowel!:eek:

Maybe you should wait a while until you have more plants to go with your lonely one and maybe think about doing a little sign i.e.Lovingly cared for by No.etc. over the bank so please don't remove! you never know it might work.Hel.xxx.

 

My cousin once had the whole of her newly planted garden swiped. When she reported it to the police (there were several hundreds of pounds worth of plants) they said they couldn't do anything as they didn't have the manpower but if she could find them they would try to get them back for her She spent several days driving round and at last saw a newly plated garden with her plants. She went back to the police who sent a uniformed officer round to see them. He then came to see her and told her that they had agreed to give them back but only if she arranged for someone to collect them, which she did. 8 of her builder husband's work mates. The police officer also said that the family who stole them was well known to the police but in view of them 'allowing' her to have them back (on their terms) it was pointless prosecuting because the magistrates would only tick them off, and they were used to that.

 

I live on a busyish through road and last year I HAD a cordyline on the flower bed right on the edge of my driveway.
One saturday night some little drunk urkins decided it would be funny to pick the cordline up and leave it on the drive.
From that night, the cordyline was doomed.
This happened about 4 times until over the xmas period it was takenout (possibly by the same little scrotes) and left about 200 yards down the road.
Unfortunately, I couldn't save it after this and had to chop it up and dispose of it.
I've now replaced it with a rose bush and hopefully they try it again in a few months time and rip their hands to shreds!!!
Some people have no respect. I'm only 35 and done some silly things when I was younger but never damaged peoples property. It just seems that the youth of today have no manners, morals or respect!!
Rant over!!

 

There was an article on the tv this morning saying that the stealing of plants is now rife. They advise you to take the labels off new plants as apparently they say this is a give away that they are newly planted and easy to uproot, also they are worth more with their labels on for selling on. They also advise using prickly plants like berberis etc on front borders where they are more likely to be attacked or stolen..........what a world we live in. Where have those halycon days gone when you did not touch other peoples property and the police were actually interested in catching thieves not that I blame the police when the CPS refuse to prosecute!

 

Bashy, get a puya. That'll fettle 'em.:D

Moyra, I saw that on breakfast and thought what a sad world it is. Mind you I've thought that for a while.

 

I have to agree-nicking plants out of people's gardens is not on!
In this case though, the man dug up a native wild flower from a public bit of land. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same. (Bit different, but I have my eye on some self set snow in summer in a gutter at the bottom of my street) Primroses aren't protected are they? And he wasn't to know someone had put it there on purpose.
I hope it survives though and can go back on the bank

 

Daisy take a butchers thistleurl]http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm[/url]

 

As they said on TV they wouldnt nick them, if people wouldnt buy them.

I was always amazed people nick sit-on mowers. Surely the market is quite limited in them? Am i just naiive ?

 

Daisy ALL plants growing in the wild are now protected. Anyone stealing them face fines of up to £5000 and/or, up to 6 months in prison.

 

So the landowner in this case would be the local council presumably? Or Highways dept or whoever. I can only imagine their reaction if you went in and asked if you could dig up a primrose!

Defra ( http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/wildlife/plants/index.htm ) says "legislation prohibits anyone from intentionally picking, uprooting or destroying or selling wild plants which are listed on the appropriate Schedule." Schedule 8 apparently http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1816 No primroses on there.
Is the fine/prison you mention governed by a different body dai?
Harsh and difficult to enforce legislation surely? What if a kid yanks up a plant by the roots?
I want to get some nettles to put on my compost heap-if I pull them up by the roots, will I get locked up?

 

Maybe fair enough, if there were lots of them but this was a single plant. However this man knew he was doing something he shouldnt have been, otherwise why would he have done it at night rather than in plain site in the daytime. I just think its pretty selfish to remove a beautiful plant from a public space to stash in your garden for your personal enjoyment, whoever that plant belongs to and no matter how rare, especially in an urban environment where greenery is so limited. I hope the nettles got him!

The plant is not looking well, but im still hoping it will pull through

 

Keep up the good work messypup, I for one think it looks lovely when people like yourself make the effort to brighten up what would be an otherwise be a dreary place!!!:thumb: