Farmers unhappy over ‘lantern’ snub

Local farmers are “very surprised” and “disappointed” that the Government has snubbed their plea to outlaw sky lanterns.

The lanterns have become popular in recent years and are let off to mark anything from a loved one’s death or to celebrate birthdays.

But recently, a smouldering lantern was found in a barn containing hay and straw and a cow was injured following a stampede started by lanterns floating over fields containing livestock.

And now the Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed its disappointment that a government study on the effects of sky lanterns and helium balloons on the environment failed to support calls for them to be banned.

Jointly commissioned by Defra and the Welsh Government, the study was carried out by ADAS into the risks of sky lanterns and helium balloons to livestock health and welfare; the environment (including litter); fire risk; damage to marine life and consumer safety.

“After consulting our members, the union called for an outright ban on the manufacture and sale of sky lanterns and for their release to be made illegal in the UK,” said FUW land use policy officer Andrew Gurney.

“We received numerous reports from members of sky lanterns being found in fields which were being grazed, were about to be grazed, or cut for silage or hay. Other more serious reports received included a lantern found smouldering in a barn containing hay and straw and a cow injured following a stampede started by lanterns floating over fields containing livestock.

“ADAS concedes the evidence they received suggests widespread concern from farmers and others over the impact of sky lanterns on the health and welfare of livestock and horses.

“We were therefore very surprised and disappointed that they also said the evidence indicated the number of cases reported annually of animals affected through panic and fright and of ingestion of sky lantern debris was ‘very small’.

The Union said that despite the setback, it will continue to fight for and a ban on the manufacture and sale of sky lanterns and for their release to be made illegal in the UK.