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AIBU?

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Original poster

to have a bonfire in the garden?

121 replies

chickpea1982 · 15/09/2024 09:22

Just that really - is it ok to have a bonfire in my garden? When we were kids we used to have bonfires quite often, but I'm not sure if it's ok any more. I'm thinking that if we did it in the evening, when people will have brought their washing in, it's not really anti-social at all. I could even pop round to the nearest neighbours to warn them/ask if they have a problem with it, if necessary.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
HelenWheels · 15/09/2024 09:39

they are a nuisance, not against the law, according to my council's leaflet
and in fact the leaflet says you should warn your neighbours if you intend to have a bbq

HeddaGarbled · 15/09/2024 09:38

Get up early in the morning and choose a day with no wind so the smoke will go straight up.

Theyhadalovelytime · 15/09/2024 09:38

MartinCrieffsLemon · 15/09/2024 09:34

Check your local council rules on what you can and burn and when

Have it in a fire pit

And crack on!

They aren't antisocial, they're a brilliant place to sit as a family or group of friends and chat with wine and nibbles and maybe even a few s'mores!

They're anti social for the neighbours not enjoying the 'nibbles' though aren't they.....

wonderstuff · 15/09/2024 09:37

One of my neighbours burnt some green garden cuttings a few weeks ago, the smoke covered the entire village, it was extremely anti social in my opinion. Take waste to the tip instead.

99RedBallonz · 15/09/2024 09:37

Depends what you are burning. Bit of garden waste, shouldn't be an issue. Old sofa, not so much.

FloralGums · 15/09/2024 09:36

I love the smell of bonfires. No problem as far as I’m concerned. I would have it late afternoon/early evening.

DillDanding · 15/09/2024 09:35

I wouldn’t as I don’t like them and we are considerate neighbours. They’re really anti-social unless you’re remote from other houses.

MartinCrieffsLemon · 15/09/2024 09:34

Check your local council rules on what you can and burn and when

Have it in a fire pit

And crack on!

They aren't antisocial, they're a brilliant place to sit as a family or group of friends and chat with wine and nibbles and maybe even a few s'mores!

MonsteraMama · 15/09/2024 09:33

Fire pit or chimenea - sure, loads of people do. A low smoke wood and as far back and out of the way of people's open windows and you'll be reet.

Pile of Amazon boxes and household crap burnt in the middle of the lawn? As someone with four family members in the fire service I feel obligated to say please don't.

BurbageBrook · 15/09/2024 09:33

Not okay at ALL.

NoSquirrels · 15/09/2024 09:32

Wait a few weeks longer.

I always burn things (in my incinerator bin) on a drizzly autumn or winter evening. You don’t get too cold or wet standing by the very hot incinerator bin, no one else is outside then, and never any complaints. It gets super hot in the bin so stuff burns quickly, even if slightly damp. Make a pile of stuff to burn this weekend and cover with a tarp for a few weeks.

Pootles34 · 15/09/2024 09:32

Nah it's anti social now, sorry! Either send it to the tip, or wait till bonfire night.

HelenWheels · 15/09/2024 09:28

is this garden waste?
depends where you live
it does seem to be anti social nowadays

Theyhadalovelytime · 15/09/2024 09:28

Not today, please not today...

It's beautiful outside, windows open, washing out etc. I'd be really pissed off if I lived nr you

TickingAlongNicely · 15/09/2024 09:26

What exactly do you mean by bonfire?
Lots of peoplehave fire pits or chimineras, with clean wood etc

Different to massive pile of household waste

Mikunia · 15/09/2024 09:26

Why would you? It's smelly, dirty and potentially dangerous. If you just want a bit of a fire get a firepit.

DearGoldFish · 15/09/2024 09:25

it’s one of the last sunny mild weekends until next spring

just let neighbours enjoy it

OpalSquid · 15/09/2024 09:25

Is it November 5th?
If yes, go ahead everyone expects this once a year, even if it is not great for people with bad chests.

If no, then no, you might also find you live in a smokeless zone, most residential areas are.

ClockworkDisaster · 15/09/2024 09:25

Warning them would be kind. It also depends on how big your garden is, how populated the area around you us and how close the neighbours are.

Large garden in a village and you would probably be ok. Small garden on a terraced street, not so much.

My neighbour occasionally has a bonfire. I don’t mind as such but I would rather be told me in advance so I could move my cabriolet as I worry about the roof getting ash dropped on it and having burn marks.

DearGoldFish · 15/09/2024 09:23

anti social
don’t
unless you live quite isolated