The blooming cheek of village daffodil thieves

One resident of Mugdock Village was astonished to see mothers encouraging their children to pick handfuls of the bright yellow flowers recently.

When Ian Boardley, chair of Mugdock Association, confronted them and told them that they were technically committing theft they apologised and ran away.

The families, who had parked two cars nearby, then drove off quickly.

Mugdock Association volunteers plant the daffodil bulbs in the village and the surrounding area every October.

They pay for them themselves, or rely on donations, to bring a bit of colour to the area for locals and visitors to enjoy in the spring.

Mr Boardley told the Herald: “I simply could not believe what I was seeing.

“They were just helping themselves indiscriminately.

“It was sheer greed, very disrespectful and rude.

“They cleared the daffodils from an entire grass verge and left a huge gap.

“This is very disappointing and a sad thing to see after all our hard work planting them.”

Mr Boardley asked the families what they thought they were doing and explained to them that volunteers from the village plant the daffodils for everyone’s enjoyment.

Mr Boardley added: “There is also a long line of daffodils along Sheath Road which look fantastic for anyone visiting.

“Thousands of people come to Mugdock Country Park each year.”

According to Mr Boardley this isn’t the first time this has happened.

Last year he saw a lady who was leading a rider on a horse with an armful of daffodils.

When he asked her what she was doing she claimed that she was going to give them to an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Mr Boardley added: “I suggested that she should buy her flowers from Asda or Tesco instead of just taking them from our village.

“We’d like people to show a bit more respect and leave the flowers where they are so that everyone can enjoy them and it’s not just them who benefit.”

Volunteers from Mugdock Association also do two litter pick-ups per year to collect things that people throw out of their cars when they pass through the village or park to enjoy the views.

This year a team of staff from McDonalds plus Costa and Tesco joined them to help.

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “Daffodils that have been planted by the council or volunteers in a community are there to improve the local amenity and environment, and should not be picked or vandalised.

“Any damage to flower bedding planted by the council or a community is regarded as vandalism, while the removal of council property is classed as theft and can be reported to local police.”

If you see anyone picking daffodils or any other flowers please call Police Scotland on 101 to report them and try to get a note of their registration number if they have a car.