CHINESE LANTERNS

[JennyWrenn]

They looked so pretty last night floating up into the night sky - I was going to get some for my GF's daughter's 18th but she warned me about the dangers to cattle - so I didnt get any - see report below - sorry to be a party pooper but I think wild life and cattle should be considered and like me many people dont know about the dangers

I found one this morning - it was huge - the canopy doesnt seem to burn out i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/sad.gif






Chinese lanterns pose danger to livestock, NFU says

Farmers' union chiefs have written to the government about the lanterns
Chinese lanterns released into the air at outdoor events such as weddings are killing livestock, farmers say.

The paper lanterns with candles inside can float for several miles before crashing to the ground. They can cause injury or death if eaten by animals.

The National Farmers' Union has written to the government. Coastguards say they are often mistaken for distress flares.

[farmersboy]

I really cant see cattle eating them,they are fussy feeders

[Barbara]

I saw an article where a little boy looked up just as one rocked in the breeze and spilled it's hot wax all over his face, he was very badly burned, I suppose that was a million to one accident .
And I read an article where livestock had the wire frames stuck to them.

[JennyWrenn]

There were more set off in the sky this year than ever - dont think saw one last year - they do seem very dangerous

I couldnt believe how big they were when I came across one on the pavement earlier this morning - THAT could have landed on someone - they are, I expect, silent

[Geranium]

I've never seen one - but they do sound a bit dodgy - I expect 'elf 'n' safety' will ban them soon.

[JennyWrenn]

Oooo have you not Geranium - the sky was full of them last night - I should imagine 100's were set off all over the UK last night

[Auricula]

Never seen any down here. Everything'll be banned soon....

[Geranium]

There are only 51 houses in our hamlet - so it would be surprising to see any, unless someone had a party. Nobody did last night - so no fireworks either. I was glad about that! ;D

[Barbara]

This is what they look like.

[Auricula]

Thanks Barbara - I bet they look super against the dark sky

[snowowl]

First time i saw one in 2009 i thought it was a space ship. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/shocked.gif

[carolann]

2009 was the first time I saw them and thought the same thing even got OH out of bed to look at some down the valley the trouble with them is the wire is so fine that it can get trampled into the grass and baled in the summer and if you dont see them then they can harm the farm animals if eaten and they will get broken up or bent in the mowing and baleing process.

[JennyWrenn]

Jan 1, 2011 12:58:39 GMT Auricula said:

Thanks Barbara - I bet they look super against the dark sky

They did - awesome - but bet the animals caught in the wires didnt think so

Have to admit when I saw them last year I thought they were something from outer space

They of course caught on and now you see them in the sky quite regularly

[Auricula]

Probably be about 15yrs before they get down here............if they're not banned first!! ;D ;D

[Geranium]

And here. Before all those rules and regs came in, we used to make similar things out of tissue paper at school in science lessons. It certainly wouldn't be allowed now!

Thanks, Barbara - they must look magical! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[JennyWrenn]

They do look magical - apparently you tie a special message to them to your loved one that has passed on

A nice thought but not very animal friendly

[Geranium]

No, 'cos I bet people don't go round and clear the debris up!

[JennyWrenn]

I will move the one on the pavement 2moro if Council not done it - the wire may get caught up in someone's foot or a foxes - we have a few of those round here and badgers

In fact some people may not know what it is

[Spruance]

There was one in our back garden this morning, and just as well that it was very damp today as otherwise it could have set the fence alight.

I think it is highly irresponsible to be launching what are in effect incendiary devices into the night sky without so much as a thought as to where they will end up or the potential consequences.

[JennyWrenn]

Did you know what it was Spru - have to say they look like a pair of erm laydee's bloomers

[Spruance]

Not until I picked it up Jen. From a distance it looked like an old polythene bag had blown over the fence but on closer inspection it was a large paper 'bag' with a bamboo rim and cross wires no doubt intended to hold the burner candle.

[Barbara]

Good job you aint got a thatched roof. spru

[Ladygardener]

i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/embarassed.gif I have to plead guilty and say we sent one up (Jenny and her girls and hubby and x hubby and I) on Christmas Eve.We all made a wish. It was beautiful to be honest. I never knew anything about it harming cattle or anyone's property any more than a firework would. I must tell Jenny about this thread.

[Barbara]

You and thousands of others LG .

[Geranium]

What a horrible thought about thatched roofs! Let's hope nobody sent them up close to any cottages.

[Auricula]

I can't light a bonfire when I've dried the wood and paper....even with accelerant, so I'm always amazed that anything catches light and burns

[Jasmine]

Jan 1, 2011 9:57:10 GMT farmersboy said:

I really cant see cattle eating them,they are fussy feeders

That's interesting FB, (changing the subject just a little - same sort of thing though) we did a balloon launch from school years ago and a few days later had an irate farmer on the line saying he'd found a balloon in one of his fields and we should think ourselves lucky that he wasn't phoning for compensation for a cow that might have eaten it.

[Barbara]

There's always one Jas.