CLA urges landowners not to use sky lanterns

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) logo

The CLA in the North is urging all landowners - public and private - not to allow the use of sky lanterns this Bonfire Night.

The Association said the use of wire-framed paper lamps on either private farmland or public council-owned land, put livestock, crops and buildings at risk.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Sadly, sky lanterns are very popular around this time of year. However, it is impossible to predict where these spent flying bonfires will land.

“We are asking our members not to allow them to be used on their land and, generally, urge the public not to use them.

“Those landing in fields pose the risk of death to livestock which ingest the abandoned wire frames and suffer tremendously.

“There is also no guarantee the flame will have extinguished before it lands potentially triggering a blaze that could destroys crops, forestry and farm buildings.”

The Association said biodegradable frames in the lanterns do not offer a safe alternative to wire.

Miss Fairburn added: “The bamboo frames cause just as much damage when ingested and the risk of fire remains.”