Chinese lanterns. Guess how many...

Dogstar

Dogstar

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Found 2 of my horses out this morning (through the electric fence into another part of the field). When I went out to retrieve them, I found a total of 9 lanterns in their field plus 2 in the garden. Grrrrrr! No wonder they escaped, with lanterns raining down on them :-( Luckily no harm done but I am not happy. At least they all seem to be the biodegradeable ones these days. I also noticed at least 7 lanterns in my neighbour's oat and cattle fields; I am sure he has plenty to do without having to pick them all up. Rant over!!
 
I agree they need banning, a local barn burnt down last year due to one and i also saw on countryfile the damage caused by them such as cows eating the wires and fires caused by them. I found one in my horses field on new years day and was not a happy bunny as we are in the middle of nowhere!
 
How do we go about getting these countryside litter banned? If I was to dispose of litter carelessly could be fined!
 
if i remember correctly a house in wiltshire was set on fire by one of these. not burnt to the ground but still a lot of damage, and it could cost human lives next time.
 
Hate the bloody things, had to educate my mother last New Year as to why they are dangerous and thus I did not want some to set off.:mad:
 
I think the NFU was doing a campaign against them? I hate banning things, but they are way too much of a risk :-(
 
It's not just lanterns that are a problem what about ballons. Charities, car show rooms, fast food joints, etc all use them and they seem to land in my fields. They have a hard bit of plastic on the end of them and I am always picking them up.
 
Don't get me started on balloons!

A big foil helium balloon appeared floating across a ditch during a fun ride I was on & blew straight into my horse leaving me dumped in a field with horsey legging it!
Have totally lost my confidence now out hacking after riding for over 40 years:(!

Have seen the Chinese Lanterns hanging in hedges etc whilst out hacking. I agree they look beautiful in the sky, but I say ban them as well.
 
Perhaps if they had a serial number stamped on them, we could sue either the people who sold them or bought them, think this should also be done on fireworks if any damage or animals injured.
 
Last new years day we picked up 28 of the bl**dy things from our fields and we have a least a couple every month. We are in the countryside but on the outskirts of Manchester and they are just so dangerous to all wildlife not just our horses so yes they should be banned asap.
 
On the Countryfile programme the Fire Brigades had joined the NFU Campaign
May be worth talking to both local Fire Safety and NFU reps to find out if records are being kept.
 
They do look pretty in the sky so I doubt that people will stop using them but maybe DEFRA could run an awareness campaign to pressure manufacturers to make them out of material thats less harmful to animals/less liable to start fires.
 
If they came with a tether so they could only go up, say, 15 metres and come down close to where they are lit I wouldn't have a problem but as they are I fully support a ban.

The serial number is a good idea but I doubt the factories in China would support this -especially since they are illegal to use there so they have no home market.
 
how about contacting the wedding magazines and getting them to write a piece about it, contacting the wedding website forums and getting them to post an article. im sure if brides knew the harm they caused the numbers of these horrible things would drop.
 
our local itv news ran a story on them a month or so ago and the general agreement was they are dangerous..... yet they still get used!
 
I forgot to mention the WI also campaigning against these lanterns

Googled Hansard to find that until one agency collates all the damage info no one is going to take any notice:

''1 Mar 2010 : Column 855W—continued
Sky Lanterns

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has collated on the risks posed by air-released Chinese lanterns for (a) grazing livestock and (b) ripening crops; and if he will make a statement. [318578]

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has made no formal assessment of the risks posed by air-released Chinese lanterns. However, we recognise there has been concern among farmers and livestock keepers about the effect of these lanterns on grazing livestock. Anecdotal evidence suggests that while few animals have been affected, the impacts can be severe.

We are not aware of evidence that Chinese lanterns have caused damage to ripening crops, but we appreciate concern over potential risks including fire, contamination, and litter.

We will be working with interested parties to consider how the risks may be mitigated''
 
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