The NFU is reminding the public of the risks associated with sky lanterns, and urging them to think twice about releasing them into the air.
Over the New Year, the successful Love your Countryside campaign will highlight the issue of how dangerous they can be. Evidence has shown that the frames of the lanterns can harm or even kill farm animals if they are ingested while fields of standing crops and buildings are also at significant risk of being set alight.
Local bans
A number of councils across the country have already taken steps to ban the release of lanterns on their land, including Chesham Town council, Waveney District Council, and more recently Essex County Council.
NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said: “We are pleased that Essex County Council has taken the decision to ban lanterns on its land. We realise that lanterns can be quite spectacular but our members know only too well how they can harm and even kill farm animals. They can also cause fires to crops, grassland on moors and bales of hay and straw that have been stacked, which can lead to a loss of buildings.
“We would urge everyone to think twice before setting them alight and releasing them into the environment and we would encourage other councils and local authorities to follow suit.”
