Bulbs

There is a huge international market for wildflower bulbs, and the UK is no exception. Species gathered from Scottish woodlands include snowdrops, wild garlic, wood anemone, star of Bethlehem and aconites.

Some harvesting is done legally. Borders Bulbs (Kelso), for example, sells bulbs gathered in private woodlands under agreement with the landowners, managing the resource on a sustainable basis by the application of a 4-5 year rotation. Likewise Cambo Estate, in Fife, employs seasonal collectors every year in the early spring. Scottish Origins LLP are another native species supplier who adhere to recognised codes of practice.

There is, however, also an illegal market in wildflower bulbs from Scottish woodlands. Roving gangs of pickers (said to be based in East Anglia) are known to dig up tonnes of snowdrop bulbs from private and public land without permission, selling them on as 'nursery stock' to unsuspecting gardeners.

Bluebell controversy

Bluebells are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act and cannot be traded without special permission (either as bulbs or seed). There is, however, a demand for bluebells for replanting schemes which at present is mostly met from abroad. Concern is growing over the fact that imported Spanish bluebells have been hybridising with native bluebells. There are now a handful of cases in which people have been granted licences to harvest bluebell bulbs for sale: licences are only granted if strict sustainability criteria can be met.

Click here to read a Guardian article about an example of sustainable bluebell harvesting in Wales.

Sustainable harvesting

The Scottish Bulb Collection Code was drawn up in 2007 in response to these issues.