Arable farmer Nigel Barnes backs the NFU’s calls for a complete ban on sky lanterns and is particularly concerned that people are letting them off at a time of increased fire risk.
Mr Barnes, who is the NFU Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Council Representative and farms near Flitwick, Central Bedfordshire, found a sky lantern in a hedge, next to his drive, on Thursday, July 9.
He said: “I find it very worrying that people are setting off sky lanterns in this heat and with such dry ground conditions.
“Sending out an open flame into the countryside is extremely dangerous, particularly in these weather conditions. We are very lucky this didn’t start a fire and cause major problems.
“We did have several sky lanterns land on the farm a few years ago, after a wedding, and that caused a fire, damaging two to three square metres of crops. If that had happened in the current weather conditions, it would have been a lot worse.”
Calls for a total ban
The NFU has long campaigned for the government to introduce a total ban on sky lanterns in England and Wales.
Every year up to 200,000 sky lanterns are released in the UK. These floating flames are highly dangerous and the litter they leave in their wake is a blight on the countryside.
The threat posed by sky lanterns is greater during the summer months. As the weather becomes warmer and drier, the risk of wildfire increases. More animals live out in the fields and could eat fallen lanterns, if they get mixed in with silage, potentially leading to injury and even death.
Homes with thatched roofs are particularly vulnerable to wildfires caused by sky lanterns.
Sky lantern petition launched
Following NFU campaigning, which mobilised thousands of members of the public to email their council, 200 councils out of 333 across England and Wales have voluntarily banned sky lanterns, including Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council.
But this only covers the land they own. A total ban would mean that sky lanterns cannot be launched from anywhere in England and Wales.
Mr Barnes said: “Sky lanterns need to be banned completely and urge people to avoid using them and to think of the damage they can cause.
“Fires can spread so quickly in these dry conditions, risking the lives of people, animals, homes, businesses and crops.”
The NFU is running a petition so that NFU members, farmers and the public can show their support for a total ban in England and Wales. This has been signed by more than 112,000 people.