Balloons being released

[Funnybunny12]

I’ve just woken up to find two balloons in my garden one stuck on my tree and one in by the shed I only noticed it as my dog was sniffing around the ballon. They had a bit of card attached to the end with some heartfelt message on. I get that people do send offs in different ways but does no one think about the environment and animals.

YANBU. Why anyone thinks a balloon tribute is a good idea is beyond me. I would not want the death of any wildlife on my hands.

I have been genuinely surprised how often I have retrieved empty helium ballons, caught in a hedgerow in the middle of nowhere. I've lived here for five years and must have dragged out about 10 of them (seperate incidents) and taken them home from a walk to dispose of properly.

It’s ridiculous! We have loads of people do it at a nature spot near us and they just won’t listen. Farmers have put posts up asking them not to do it as livestock may eat it but they still do. I get it’s a nice tribute but there’s so many alternatives that don’t harm anyone

The people who do this dont tend to be receptive to sense

Part of the problem is that it tends to be at moments of intense grief.

Telling grieving people not to do things rarely goes down well.

Encouraging alternatives is the way forward (like special post boxes in graveyards for letters, flower bombs, blowing bubbles, lighting candles...)

Oh ffs people will whinge about anything 🙄

No, they often don’t think about the environment and the animals because their wedding display or memorial for someone who is no longer with us is considered more important.

Its ignorant and selfish and it should be made illegal.

@PuttingDownRoots Exactly this.

I don't understand how people releasing these balloons don't wonder what happens to them, the effects on the environment and on animals.

Helium balloons kill animals: www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/helium-balloon-warning-after-deer-death-9296699/
try doing a simple search on helium balloons + livestock and animals news and you will see a list of similar stories.
Helium is a finite resource and there are better uses for it.

I've known horses and cattle die from people releasing balloons. Where do people think they are going to end up, heaven?!? They are plastic tat, since when is it okay to leave plastic scattered around the countryside?!

Good, they have a point.

People do it usually when dealing with immense grief and tbf, it was fairly mainstream for a while.

The idea is to send a message "up into the universe", usually where people believe (or hope) their loved ones are. I've heard of people releasing balloons, birds, messages in bottles, fireworks etc.

When I was little we wrote heartfelt letters and burned them so the smoke would take the messages to the person.

Often people going through grief need an outlet. I agree that the general public needs educating about the effects on the environment, animals and others. Perhaps we need more 'public service announcements' about it.

There needs to be a ban on it. People won’t listen when they are grieving but it is littering in someone’s memory and endangering wildlife. Who would want people to do that to remember them?

They need to be banned, throwing rubbish on the floor, even if you let it bob about in the sky for a bit is still throwing rubbish for someone else to deal with.
We've had them in our sheep fields before, they're a total pain, it's littering.

FWIW most of the balloons I've retrived (that I can remember) have been celebration ballons - e.g. wedding and birthday balloons. I don't always read the messages on them, so there could have been memorial ones too.

balloons should be banned.
plenty of other ways to express emotions then ruining the environment and wasting plastic

I think it needs to be illegal. I feel desperately sorry for grieving people and understand the need for an outlet but it kills animals and negatively impacts the environment. It’s not just some harmless outpouring of grief, especially when it’s hundreds being released.

I don't blame those who do it in times of sorrow. Commercial outlets encourage people experiencing loss and grief to basically, spread litter.

As littering is not legal, and subject to spot penalties and fines, maybe it is time for those selling litter to be held to account.

There are many alternatives that need not cause such damage.

(include sea creatures amongst the victims. Seals etc)

I agree it should be banned. Then even at the most intense times, it's not even an option... conversations can be quickly closed down.

Yes it should be banned, people let off like 100 balloons. Also all the helium balloons at fairs should be banned, kids always end up letting go of them.

I firmly believe that releasing balloons should be illegal. Along with Chinese lanterns. They're just dangerous litter.

There should be a ban. I understand that people are grieving, but that's all the more reason for having a ban; if someone releases a balloon and then hears a critical comment about this later, it can add to their pain. Simply banning the ritual and stopping people from doing this in the first place (well... perhaps not every instance, but most of them; contrary to popular belief, banning things like balloon releases will actually work in the case of most people) ensures that this will not happen.

Yes
Killing livestock and wildlife is just so trivial isnt it?

Assume you are a town dweller who hasn't lost any animals due to balloons?

Totally agree.