Balloon or lantern releases are damaging to the environment.
We encourage anyone considering it to look for a better alternative option instead.
They can cause:
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Injury to wildlife and livestock. Animals and birds may eat parts of sky lanterns or deflated balloons when they come down on land or in the sea. Parts can get chopped into animal feed during harvest. Sharp parts can damage an animal's digestive system and balloons may block it. Animals and birds may get caught up in fallen wire frames or string and suffer injury and distress.
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Litter. Balloons and lanterns cause litter when they fall back to land, or into the sea or other water bodies
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Fire. Falling sky lanterns may set fire to buildings, dry crops, woodland, stores of hay/straw etc.
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Air safety. Balloons and sky lanterns can get drawn into plane engines or may be a distraction to pilots
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Rescue services. Sometimes lanterns are mistaken for distress flares. HM Coastguard and lifeboats have had false alarms because of lanterns.
Better alternatives
We encourage anyone considering a release to look at a different option.
Consider using kites or balloons on strings. A candle lit vigil, or the sharing of poems and thoughts together.
You could draw an outline on the beach. A bird, heart symbol or whatever you like, then people fill it with real petals (no artificial ones please).
Biodegradable balloon options are available. These still take months or even years to break down and can still cause suffering to animals.
These alternatives would not release plastic waste over the countryside. They would avoid harm animals and the environment.
Advice and Guidelines
The Marine Conservation Society's 'Don’t Let Go' campaign discourages the release of balloons
You can read guidelines and a code of conduct from NABAS, The Balloon and Party Professionals Association. They say “NO” to balloon releases.