To think ''Chinese Lanterns'' should be banned?

[ThatGingerOne]

Seen several posts now of horses being horrifically injured from the lanterns landing on them. Other stories of course about them starting fires too. Does anyone else agree they're too dangerous to be used?

I'm with Jemima - DSis died at birth and sending her a balloon might have been nice when I was little but I'd have been absolutely livid with my parents when I realised where the balloons ended up. Nothing wrong with lighting a candle, making a donation to SANDS etc.

Chinese lanterns are even worse because of the fire risk. It is thought that one started a factory fire near me.

Am popping on here having not RTFT to say that I agree fully with OP but thought I'd mention that I basically set the bride's dress alight when the one I was "sending away" at a wedding and caught a chiffon layer.

It was extinguished pronto but omg, I was so utterly appalled and couldn't actually stop apologising for years after

I think they are incredibly beautiful. But they should be banned.

True. I remember a New Year a few years ago when everyone around here set off lanterns instead of fireworks and it was incredibly beautiful to see them all floating away through the night sky.

However, having read of the damage they have caused and the harm to animals then I don't think anyone could defend their use.

That picture of the owl is heart breaking

Re bereavement, can't remember where I saw this mentioned, but someone said they put a parent's ashes in a firework with bluebell seeds and fired it into the Welsh hills. I thought that was fabulous. Whilst I hate the amount of fireworks and think displays should be regulated, I think the majority of the elements will eventually degrade, no clue about the accelerant/powder. I'd like to do that with the horse's ashes when it's time.

I agree they need to be banned. It's a shame they are so dangerous because they are lovely. Can we also ban fireworks being sold to anyone except licensed displays please, I've been jumping out of my skin all evening and it's still a week until bonfire night.

I think some elements of fireworks take an equally long time to break down. We had a horrendous year with fireworks last year. One night I had to sit with the horses for two hours as rockets rained down on their stables (the wind was blowing in the direction of our yard). It was terrifying. A dry windy night and these bloody things landing with huge sparks. In the morning we gathered 37 rocket sticks. Some went into the fields and we still find them now, a year on.

The problem seems to be that people buy fireworks suitable for an organised display, when they only have a small garden to let them off in. There are massive lumps of plastic on the pointy ends of them which are a big issue for wildlife too.

CherrySoup - I think you have massively missed the point! Do you think the Welsh hills have no wildlife that will be affected? Whilst sending up someone's ashes with bluebell seeds might sound incredibly romantic and nostalgic, if it happens at the cost of a poor creature dying in horrific circumstances . . . . . is it really worth it?

Yes, we collect a huge amount of firework debris off the beach every November too. Firing them off over the sea is beautiful, but picking up the plastic that is washed ashore, or even worse seeing the remains of animals that have been killed by ingesting them, isn't.

I appreciate I sound like a total killjoy, but we have to take responsibility for our actions.

I quite like the idea of everyone joining hands to make a heart shape as well as the bubble release

YANBU , they are dreadful, dangerous things. Should definitely be banned. I hate when I see or hear of people using them, despite knowing the damage and danger.