sky lanterns

[racingheart]

Holding a big party at new year and wanted to let off sky lanterns.

I've read very mixed reviews of some being useless and torn on arrival if you buy in bulk. So I'm hoping some of you have used them and can recommend or warn against certain brands. The party is for a big birthday, so it's important that they work, as I know she loves them.

Please please don't buy ones with wire in them. They cause terrible injuries to wildlife and animals on fields - they get their legs caught in them or get them caught up in food. You can get ones built on combustible basket work stuff.

They do look beautiful, but many farmers hate them because of the effect on livestock and the fire risk, it's apparantly not safe to let them off near railway lines (signals), or over the coast (confusion for lights / SOS flares). Also they only work in v low winds and not great in the rain.

Oh, and none within 5 miles of an airport of any kind.

They are so beautiful though. I have some in the back of the car that we have never found the right place to set off, given all the restrictions and guidelines.

Everything that Blu says. Agree, they are absolutely beautiful when let off in a big bunch, but you have to have a calm dry night.

I've seen a tree catch fire when a lantern got caught in its branches (let off on Bonfire night), and I've seen the wire remains of others all over a field full of cattle (the morning after the same event).

We live next to a farm and I've already discussed with the farmer what we're doing. She's fine with it as long as there's no wire landing in her fields. Miles from an airport, and not near the railway, so we're safe. At night all her animals are tucked up in their stables, a long way off, so no danger of them being scared by the lights or flames.

Thanks for the basket work lanterns tip, Blu - just ordered them!

Please don't buy them. Not even the 'wire free biodegradable' versions. They are constructed with bamboo, or thin wood to give them structure. If that lands in a field that is later harvested for hay/straw, the combine harvester will just chop it into small sharp pieces and it will be hidden within the bale. Not good for a horse or other animal to swallow.

I hadn't thought of that. Already bought them but maybe we won't light them in the garden. I don't want to harm any animals.

For the love of God, don't. Her animals may be all tucked up but that doesn't mean one won't set the straw/hay alight. and I am absolutely sure that none of you will be spotting where they come down at midnight and go and pick them up. Please just throw them away.

As an alternative- could you hang tea lights from jam jars on a tree? And then stand back and look at them/make a new years wish?

I've seen a fire start from a sky lantern and I would worry about the effect on the wild life.

OK. Got the message. Never mind.

Sorry - didn't mean that to sound snotty at all. I really hadn't thought it through, being so close to livestock. Maybe I'll send them back with my sis and she can let them off somewhere more suitable.

racing heat- I just googled tea lights hanging from trees, and I am now going to steal this half idea for my own new years! It does look really cool- I don't have a tree to hang it on, but I'm going to either make a stack of bricks/rocks (think rocky christmas tree type structure!) or hang rope from the fence all criss cross, and then get guests to come and light them.

I think it will have the same visual effect (lots of pretty lights) but without the same fire risk. Now am googling large bags of tea lights and wire!

Good for you racing heart! Definitely right choice. There have been many reports on the dangers to wildlife on land and sea from these lanterns. The tealight idea sounds lovely-nicer than lanterns I think!

Tea lights in jam jars is a fabulous idea. And they can all write their wishes in the air with sparklers. Off to buy dozens of jumbo sparklers that can be safely disposed of.

Ohhhh sparklers is another great shout!

Make sure you get photos of it all too! It's all about slow shutter speed!

Thank you Racingan for reconsidering - alas the lanterns can travel a very long way before coming down, so you can't control where they land. And I've seen fires caused by them too - and the debris left if there isn't a fire.

If you turn off your camera flash, you can get amazing photos of sparklers - my fave picture ever is of me and ds doing sparklers, and it lights up our faces

Please please don't do this! Somebody let some off on our estate and one got stuck in the neighbours gutter causing the roof of her house to catch fire!!