Join our campaign to ban sky lanterns

Sky lanterns might look pretty but they are a serious danger to animals and the countryside.

Essentially a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a candle is suspended, sky lanterns, can float for miles before they fall to the ground.

Every year up to 200,000 sky lanterns are released in the UK. These “floating flames” are highly dangerous.

They can:

Start wildfires
Kill animals
Destroy food growing in fields
Set homes and buildings alight

And the litter they leave in their wake is a blight on our beautiful countryside.

That’s why action is needed now.

Sign our petition for a total ban on sky lanterns

Sign the petition

Our campaign journey so far

In 2019, the NFU launched a campaign to urge people to email their council to ban sky lanterns on land it owns. To date 174 councils out of 333 have banned them in England and Wales. Check here to see if your council has banned sky lanterns.

Then in 2021, the NFU, alongside 17 leading farming, environment, animal and fire organisations including the RSPCA and National Fire Chiefs Council, wrote to to Rebecca Pow MP, Under Secretary of State for Defra to highlight the danger of sky lanterns.

The coalition then met with Environment Minister, Jo Churchill MP. She committed to commission further research into the risks of sky lanterns.

In May 2022, our petition launched calling for support for a total ban on the sale and use of sky lanterns in England and Wales.

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Email your council

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If your local council isn't already supporting the ban there are things that you can do to help.

Join us in our call for a complete ban on the release of sky lanterns.

Email your local council now.

Take action now

Which councils have banned sky lanterns?

A number of councils have backed the campaign and banned the release of sky lanterns on council owned land. If you know that your local council has implemented a ban, but isn't on a list, please let us know by dropping our campaigns team an email.

North East	Bradford City Council Calderdale Borough Council East Riding of Yorkshire Council Hartlepool Borough Council Kirklees Borough Council Leeds City Council North Yorkshire County Council Northumberland County Council Redcar & Cleveland Council Richmondshire District Council Selby District Council South Tyneside Borough Council Wakefield City Council
North West	Bolton Borough Council Carlisle City Council Cheshire East Council Cheshire West and Chester Council Eden District Council Fylde Borough Council Halton Borough Council Lancaster City Council Manchester County Council Oldham Borough Council Preston City Council Rochdale Borough Council Salford City Council South Lakeland District Council Stockport Borough Council Tameside Borough Council Trafford Borough Council Wigan Borough Council Wirral Borough Council Wyre Borough Council
Wales	Anglesey (Ynys Môn) Blaenau Gwent Bridgend (Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) Caerphilly (Caerffili) Cardiff (Caerdydd) Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin) Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) Gwynedd Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tudful) Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy) Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot) Newport (Casnewydd) Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro) Powys Rhondda Cynon Taf Swansea (Abertawe) Torfaen (Tor-faen) Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg) Wrexham (Wrecsam)
West Midlands	Birmingham City Council Bromsgrove District Council Dudley Borough Council Herefordshire Council Malvern Hills District Council Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council Sandwell Borough Council Shropshire Council Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Staffordshire Borough Council Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Telford and Wrekin Council Warwickshire County Council Warwick District Council Wolverhampton City Council Worcester City Council Worcestershire County Council Wychavon District Council Wyre Forest District Council
East Midlands	Amber Valley Borough Council Charnwood Borough Council Corby Borough Council Derbyshire Dales District Council Gedling Borough Council High Peak Borough Council Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leicester City Council Lincoln City Council Newark & Sherwood District Council North East Derbyshire District Council Nottinghamshire County Council Rushcliffe Borough Council Rutland County Council South Holland District Council South Kesteven District Council West Lindsey District Council
East Anglia	Babergh District Council Basildon Borough Council Braintree District Council Breckland District Council Broadland District Council Broxbourne Council Colchester Borough Council Dacorum Borough Council East Suffolk District Council East Cambridgeshire District Council Essex County Council Fenland District Council Great Yarmouth Borough Council Hertfordshire County Council Ipswich Borough Council Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council Maldon District Council Mid Suffolk District Council Norfolk County Council North Hertfordshire District Council North Norfolk District Council Norwich City Council Rochford District Council South Norfolk County Council Suffolk Coastal District Council Suffolk County Council Tendring District Council Three Rivers District Council Uttlesford District Council Waveney District Council
South East	Arun District Council Bracknell Forest Borough Council Brighton and Hove District Council Canterbury City Council Chelmsford City Council Chesham Town Council Chichester District Council Crawley Borough Council Dover District Council Ealing Eastleigh Borough Council Gosport Borough Council Hampshire County Council Harrow Borough Council Hastings Borough Council Ipswich Borough Council Isle of Wight Council Lambeth Lewes District Council Lewisham Maidstone Borough Council Merton Mid Sussex District Council Milton Keynes Council Oxford City Council Portsmouth City Council Reading Borough Council Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Redbridge Rother District Council Shepway District Council South Oxfordshire District Council Sutton Swale Borough Council Test Valley Borough Council Thanet District Council Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Vale of White Horse District Council Wandsworth Waverley Borough Council West Berkshire Council West Oxfordshire District Council Winchester City Council Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council Wycombe District Council
South West	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Bristol City Council Cheltenham Borough Council Cornwall Council East Devon District Council Forest of Dean District Council Gloucester City Council Isles of Scilly Mid Devon District Council New Forest District Council North Dorset District Council North Somerset Council Plymouth City Council Poole Borough Council Sedgemoor District Council Somerset West and Taunton Council South Gloucestershire Council South Hams District Council Swindon Borough Council Teignbridge District Council Torbay Council West Devon Borough Council West Dorset District Council Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Wiltshire Council

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Last edited: 04 August 2022 at 12:13

Have your say

49 comments

Add a comment

Tom Goss - 15/05/2020 14:41:17

Ban these dangerous lanterns. How are they not banned already?

Sandra Nash - 06/05/2020 09:34:55

We live in a thatched cottage and have had sky lanterns from Kettering land in our garden. Perhaps you could give Kettering Counsil a nudge,they are not on your list. Thankyou.

Margaret Duckworth - 29/04/2020 16:42:03

I agree with all the comments. Ban them...no excuses do it soon.

Margaret nally - 28/04/2020 21:56:27

I am dismayed and very concerned that Merton council is not on the list of councils that have banned these obviously very dangerous contraptions

Rita Wells - 19/04/2020 08:52:14

I am shocked that so few of Yorkshire councils are not on this list. They should be, given the amount of farms/national park land and moirland that they cover. Shame on them

Seona Nairn - 17/04/2020 12:34:48

Clearly floating fire lanterns in the sky is extremely dangerous practice. I think if any one of us really gave the burning lanterns proper thought they would realise just how dangerous they are and dangerous in so many ways! . Sit down and see how many dangers they might cause and think again . I am sure there are less dangerous ways to create beauty and excitement at a festival or celebration !

Big Joe - 17/04/2020 09:09:57

They are dangerous to houses farms animals out buildings very high fire risk to everything who knows whare they land what damage they cause

anthea - 16/04/2020 23:17:17

Sad to see the newly amalgamated BOURNEMOUTH, POOLE and CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL not listed as a council that has banned the use. (And not even separately either). With the New Forest to the east, extensive Dorset farmland to the north and west, the Purbecks to the South West and the Sea to the South - we are surrounded by natural beauty and valuable resources... Habitats and animals included. We really should be banning a floating firebomb and the dangerous debris it leaves when it does burn out. Yet another bad idea imported from China!!!

KAREN Calderwood - 16/04/2020 23:08:14

No no no to these lanterns.. so harmful to our wildlife

Doris Jones - 16/04/2020 22:59:51

I recall some problems with small aircraft having to change tack suddenly when a large number of lanterns were entering their airspace. I support a ban.

Doris Jones - 16/04/2020 22:59:31

I recall some problems with small aircraft having to change tack suddenly when a large number of lanterns were entering their airspace. I support a ban.

Andrew - 16/04/2020 21:06:18

Yes of course they should be banned if I was to go and walk up to Hay barn or a thatched roof and set fire to I’ll be arrested and locked up so what’s the difference That’s when these people let this rubbish off they do not know where they gonna end up plus a lot of these have wire in I am can get into livestock's stomachs and kill them absolutely Criminal activitywho ever thought of this idea being released in the UK should be lockedup

Sue Anderson - 16/04/2020 20:43:20

The fire hazard but especially the danger to livestock, at present lambs an d pregnant ewes. , not to mention wildlife.Nationwide ban NOW.

Jo Stewart - 16/04/2020 17:20:35

Need banning across the board. Extremely dangerous as they are totally uncontrolled once lit & released.

Julie Stringer - 16/04/2020 13:20:05

I agree that sky lanterns should be banned as they are dangerous to the environment.

David Hickory - 16/04/2020 12:17:56

Yet more danger originating in China. These things should be banned completely and importers and distributors prosecuted by Trading Standards.

jane mitchell - 16/04/2020 11:51:38

Although sky lanterns may look pretty from a distance, they are dangerous and yes, they should be banned as they pose a fire hazard and a danger to animals.

Carl Leverett - 16/04/2020 10:08:59

Ban these death traps

Gill Palmer - 16/04/2020 08:07:19

Please Ban for good in all areas, so dangerous

Janine Levy - 16/04/2020 08:07:07

As pretty as they are in the sky they do so much damage to animals and start fires we do not need to fight for goodness sake

Lynne Rous - 16/04/2020 07:44:00

Ban them please!

Carol Agnew - 16/04/2020 07:12:22

I don't see any Scottish councils listed here. I sincerely hope that is an oversight and not ignorance, or apathy, on the part of Scotland.

Zane Lloyd - 16/04/2020 06:22:01

Just have a UK wide ban on the sale, and fine both those who sell or possess them. You can't control where they end up, and I can't see how the people releasing them will be able to collect them later. It's littering. Adding fire to the mix, how can this be legal?

Mel Brown - 15/04/2020 22:04:20

These should be banned due to fire risks and scaring of animals

Jenny Vieyra - 15/04/2020 18:52:56

They should be banned by the Government not just whichever Council chooses to. I don't have a problem with standard old fashioned pretty fireworks but the modern ones that sound like bombs must be banned, they are so horrendous, bad for people but diabolical for animals. So, any Government member reading this, please do something about these issues.

Carol Stevens - 15/04/2020 14:30:28

Lanterns are highly dangerous to humans, animals and buildings. It has always surprised me that the National Fire Chiefs Council do not actively press for their ban country-wide.

simon jackson - 15/04/2020 11:03:35

Flood the company's webpage with complaints!!

Grace Roberts - 15/04/2020 09:26:22

I see my council (Norwich) have banned them on council owned property. But I think the ban should be implemented country wide. They are a dreadful fire hazard and dangerous to many aspects of country and city life. The same goes for balloons and fireworks.

Heather Hummel - 15/04/2020 09:13:18

Yes definitely ban these lanterns, they are a fire hazard not only to property but to wildlife and domestic animals alike. They do so much damage and if let off at the moment to say thank you to the NHS we are only adding to their workload. Please do the responsible thing and clap on a thursday night instead.

Olwen Barrs - 14/04/2020 23:11:01

These things are a terrible fire risk and a danger to livestock.

Vanessa Lynsdale - 14/04/2020 23:06:11

Ban them forever.

Ann Curry - 14/04/2020 22:58:13

I used to love sky lanterns and when the Hospice where my husband passed away used to have a summer remember servis and we all would stand outside the church and let the lanterns go into the sky it was a lovely way to remember all those that had died That was quite some time ago and when I read what damage they did and how not only property was damaged but being a real animal lover how animals were hurt and suffered I was pleased when that didn't happen .I know my husband would have also agreed .Im so pleased to see North Somerset which is the area I live in has band them and quite rightly so .

Alan Porter - 14/04/2020 22:48:41

We are in Norfolk our council are Breckland CC they are not on your list and need to be told, as the whole area is mainly farming.

Hilary Harrop - 14/04/2020 21:18:52

Please ban sky lanterns, but please please please ban fireworks,, humans suffer because of them physically and mental costing the NHS. Also animals suffer terribly and can’t understand.

Eileen Nicholson - 14/04/2020 20:23:07

They kill annimals and destroy property. What kind of idiot sends fire up into the sky and has no control over where or on what it lands? Horses have been burned in their stables and fields - cattle choked on the debris. All so some profiteer can make a few quid off the back of the NHS? How can that be right on any level?

John Clark - 14/04/2020 19:53:34

also banned by Portishead town council, on the coast where they have caused false alarms for lightboats,

Elaine - 14/04/2020 19:37:57

These lanterns are a danger to wildlife and our countryside (fire hazard - dry weather) BAN PLEASE

Susan Turnbull - 14/04/2020 19:04:10

These are dangerous, Ban them, fine those who make / sell them, Stop the sale. Ban them.

Dave Deeming - 02/01/2020 19:17:16

Yep, ban these dastardly things, not just on council land, but everywhere in the UK. Ban the sale of fireworks to members of the public, too. New government, new Prime Minister, who, it is said, is keen on animal welfare. Let us all, everyone reading these posts, bombard our MPs until these horrendous, dangerous, antisocial, and unnecessary things are banned from this country forever! It's taking too long!

Ash Touhig - 02/01/2020 14:05:13

Need to stop producing them! 30 animals died inc 5 orangutans, 1 chimp, many monkeys, birds and animals New Years Eve, Krefeld Zoo Germany - where it is banned already but purchased off the internet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50971250

Janice kirk - 31/12/2019 15:22:47

Until a bill is passed by the government to completely ban the sale of sky lanterns, unfortunately it will never stop. It does not carry any weight councils banning it. Legislation needs to be put in place

Adie Barker - 31/12/2019 00:08:37

Damage to farms due to fires and the death of animals.

James Clark - 15/12/2019 20:29:57

Sky lanterns should be banned by the many not the few.

Kathleen Barnes - 25/10/2019 16:35:34

These lanterns should be banned

Julie gearing - 15/08/2019 13:16:40

Should be banned totally.

Gillian Clement - 05/04/2019 23:52:56

I agree with Patsy Alcock. Fireworks are also a menace when they are repeatedly let off over a period of days, sometimes weeks. There should be an allocated Saturday nearest to 5th November when only organised events are allowed displays. That way pet owners will know when to keep thier animals indoors.

Matthew Waddington - 30/03/2019 09:35:31

They can look beautiful. For a few minutes. But not worth the damage done to wildlife, livestock & property. They need to be banned.

Patsy Alcock - 28/03/2019 20:18:53

Not only do sky lanterns want banning but fireworks should be confined to organised displays and advertised locally so that those people whose animals are scared of them are forewarned.

Jane Neatrour - 08/02/2019 21:28:12

Ban these dangerous lanterns

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