Year round fairy lights- do they make your garden look like a pub?!

[linmanuel]

I have been coveting some outdoor led lights

But bit worried it would look like a beer garden

Thoughts

I have outdoor wire solar lights all year round

I like them which is all that matters and they stop me falling over all the pots

They are very bad for wildlife

Yes.
They are also a (collective) pain for anyone who would like dark skies to do a bit of stargazing.

Yes.

@HomeHomeInTheRange

They are very bad for wildlife

How so?

More like a Parisian street vibe than a beer garden. I love my outdoor lights as they look romantic, more so when the wine flows.

I've honestly never looked at someone's garden lights and thought they looked like a pub.
I just think they look cheerful.

It depends what look you are going for.
I have a few in my garden. One next to the pond, and a few in flower beds. Not over the top, but they look nice for the 30 seconds they come on this time of year.

I don't think they would contribute enough to light pollution to have a detrimental effect on wildlife or stargazing. They aren't likely to be left on all night, and at the times they are switched on, there will be ambient light from buildings into the garden anyway.

Street lights are by far the worst culprits for light pollution anyway.

Didn't mean to say 'anyway' twice there.

I love them!

I must admit I had no idea they were bad for wildlife. I presume they would be switched off when the house goes dark at night.

I have them up year round, put them on when we’re in the garden!

Please don't. Artificial lighting is really detrimental to wildlife.

www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-lighting-effects-on-wildlife

One article about the detriment to wildlife, Googling provides many more, about different aspects:

www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-lighting-effects-on-wildlife

Who sits in the garden in winter?

Love my solar powered lights for summer evenings.

Do you mean solar when you say led?

We have globe lights round our gazebo, but it’s electric, so only on when we are out there, but we habe security lights like most people and they would come on if anyone came near the house.

I do think fairy lights look lovely, my friend has some solar ones in her garden and they are very effective. If you’re urban most folks gardens are never totally dark anyway as there are lamp posts, security lights, house lights etc,

I love mine. They are only small and I don't think the wildlife are bothered as we have a huge street lamp overlooking the garden.

We live in a rural area without street lights. A neighbour across the valley has a string of bulbs across her garden lit up all night (I really don’t like them, I loved the dark prior to this). I’ve opened a little coffee trailer café recently and I wish I had a £1 for every customer who had expected the café to be the house with the lights!

Ps, I don’t have anything against people that have garden lights on while they’re using the gardens.

It does a bit now you come to mention it.

I still love them though.

To answer your initial question some types certainly do, next door but two neighbour has a very bright string of bulbs and these do smack of pub garden.

Worse still they are a big kick in the teeth for the survival of wildlife. I implore people not to get outdoor decorative lights or if they do limit their use. It's a worrying trend, next door but one looks like a beer garden crossed with Old Trafford football floodlights. My poor eyes.

[quote HomeHomeInTheRange]One article about the detriment to wildlife, Googling provides many more, about different aspects:

www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-lighting-effects-on-wildlife[/quote]
My street has super bright LED lamposts. I doubt me turning off my handful of solar lights will have an impact on wildlife.

@Orchidsonthetable

Do you mean solar when you say led?

We have globe lights round our gazebo, but it’s electric, so only on when we are out there, but we habe security lights like most people and they would come on if anyone came near the house.

I do think fairy lights look lovely, my friend has some solar ones in her garden and they are very effective. If you’re urban most folks gardens are never totally dark anyway as there are lamp posts, security lights, house lights etc,

I guess she means LED? Could be solar or not?

What's wrong with beer gardens? Surely this is a bonus?

I love to see them in gardens, they look magical to me.