We’re asking party-goers and organisers to think about the potentially lethal implications for livestock - or the damage running into thousands if crops are burned - before marking a special event by releasing Chinese lanterns.
The flying candles have been used since the 13th century to symbolise hope and good luck and now seem to be the latest 'must-have' at stylish get-togethers.
For farmers in both the arable and livestock sectors, though, Chinese lanterns have become an ongoing cause of concern.
The issues around them have hit the headlines again recently with fresh reports of grazing animals injured by the novelties’ wire and bamboo construction and, on Friday, what Oxfordshire emergency services called a ‘severe crop fire’ in a barley field.
“People must consider the potential damage these lanterns can cause,” incident commander John Nixon told the BBC, adding: "We have had a particularly dry summer and it does not take much to set large areas of the countryside alight."
More than 25 firefighters tackled the flames, near Woodstock.
West Sussex First Service has also issued a similar warning in the past week, following call-outs to blazes involving lanterns. Roger Wood, Community, Fire and Road Safety manager, said: “There is growing concern over cases where the embers from the fuel cell can continue to glow for several minutes after the flames have gone out and then fall from the lantern as it flies.” Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are concerned too and advise against using the lanterns.
The latest incidents add to numerous reports received by the NFU of harm to livestock after lanterns have landed in farmers’ fields and have been ingested by cattle. In some cases this has led to the death of animals and even if problems are not immediately apparent, there is an additional risk when grass is cut for winter feed and the wire is chopped up amongst hay or silage. A Cheshire farmer is known to have lost one of his prize Red Poll cows last December, after lantern wire pierced the cow’s windpipe
Commenting on the latest incidents, NFU President Peter Kendall said: “We don't want to be killjoys at all, but - with the very dry summer and the reports we’re getting of injuries to cattle - we would urge party-goers and venues to resist the temptation to release lanterns into the countryside.”
And the NFU is flagging up more than just the risk of injury to livestock or crop fires. There is also the risk of party-goers’ potential liability for damage caused by lanterns. NFU rural surveyor Louise Staples said: “A fire in a field of barley could cost a farmer thousands of pounds. We would urge the public, venues and indeed manufacturers to think about the liabilities they could incur if the lanterns they sell or release end up causing damage.”
Banned in Germany and Australia, the lanterns are often released in large numbers and float upwards to considerable heights, remaining airborne for many minutes. In some cases they can drift up to 15 miles at the mercy of the wind.
See also: