to have a bonfire in the garden?

[chickpea1982]

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?

Perhaps.
I am not keen on open fires, wood burners, bonfires or BBQs. The pollution/smell aspect just outweighs any potential positives. Unfortunately I live in an area where folk still use coal fires and the reek from my neighbour a few doors down is almost unbearable some days. The smell left on my washing the other week was like burnt 💩.

Very occasional fine (and i think most councils allow it) but I do find the ‘do it in the evening’ argument annoying. The washing might be in but our windows are open at night unless it’s arctic weather and it’s horrible going to bed when it’s smoky

I’d far rather a bbq/fire than a car exhaust and I like the smell

I'd rather have none in my back garden tbh.

Go for it OP. I have never understood what the objections to bonfires are. Rather a bonfire in a neighbour's garden than a barbecue any day.

Pollution.
Smell.
There you go, two reasons that aren't hard to understand.

I don't understand woodburners at all. All those carcinogens polluting your living space. No thank you.

They pollute the space of those around them too. Pretty sure my neighbours just have a normal open fire though and they burn all sorts on it. I have seen them get coal deliveries.

A bonfire during the day is very antisocial for obvious reasons including washing on the line and breathing issues. Who wants smoke stinking their house out?

A bonfire overnight us just as bad for those who sleep with a window cracked open.

A seeping-smoke overnight bonfire left from a bonfire in the day is absolutely infuriating to your neighbours esp if when they rise to shut the window they can’t see where it’s coming from.
Take your waste to your local tip! Pleeeeeze, don’t be the antisocial pest in your neighbourhood.

I live in a small village and have 2 acres of garden. I do have bonfires but I wait until the wind is in the right direction (ie so the smoke goes across open fields and away from houses) and we do it right at the back of our garden. Theres no houses behind us, only fields and then the coast! We can't do much else as having so many trees means we've constantly got fallen leaves, branches and debris to burn and we can't compost it all!

Not just anti-social, potentially dangerous as well.

If you have two acres of land out in the countryside, fine.

If you live in an urban area with a postage stamp garden, not fine.

Nobody wants even more air pollution.

It’s so bad for people’s lungs, especially those with asthma, COPD etc. never mind the environment. I

Yes. I remember being horrified in the early days of the first COVID lockdown when one of my stupid neighbours had a bonfire (near the start when we thought it was a respiratory infection). How stupid can you get?

My neighbours too. The council put out some notifications and emails asking people not to have them, or barbecues, because of people with covid struggling to breathe. It didn’t put him off.

No, the smell, the smoke - unnecessary

Some wood burners absolutely stink where I live - people burning unseasoned damp wood and it gets deep into your lungs.
Also oil burners.
Coal doesn't seem to do that for some reason I guess because it's strictly controlled fuel.

If you are my neighbour round the back who always picks a sunny day when there's washing out and windows open - then yes you are very unreasonable and an antisocial twat.

I think we all know woodturners aren't the eco heating we used to think they were. But burning the right wood makes a huge difference. The thing about bonfires is they're definitely not using well seasoned wood, plus there isn't a regulation length flue to at least shove the smoke out at a high level

Burning garden waste -especially when it's fresh/green - produces loads of smoke, and this is non just unpleasant, but also carcinogenic.
Much better for people's health and the planet to let it rot down naturally - either chop it up and compost it in a heap, or make a discreet pile somewhere and provide some habitat for wildlife in your garden. Or if you can't be arsed, get your local council to deal with it on your behalf.

There was an item on the news this morning about air pollution causing strokes. There's already a possible link with dementia, quite apart from the obvious conditions relating to the lungs.

It would be most appreciated if people could stop having bonfires (and turn their engines off in their cars when they are not driving anywhere).

Yep if your garden is big enough for a bonfire it's big enough for a compost bin or heap! We had the tiniest London back garden before we moved out to pastures more extensive, and had a great compost bin which dealt with all our garden and kitchen veg waste. And provided our tiny borders with nourishment.