NFU sky lantern petition tops 100,000 signatures

More than 100,000 people have signed an NFU petition urging the government to ban the release of sky lanterns across England and Wales.

The petition, which was launched in May 2022, is supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council, the RSPCA and Keep Britain Tidy.

The latest initiative forms part of a wider campaign by the NFU and other partner organisations to get the government to ban sky lantern releases. 

See also: Farmer outrage as 11 sky lanterns land on tinder-dry crop

NFU vice-president David Exwood said sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, continued to be a real danger to people living and working in the countryside.

“Sky lanterns can cause serious injury to livestock if they are eaten, particularly with so many calves and lambs in the fields in the spring and summer months. As the weather gets drier, the potential for fire damage to crops and buildings is also increased,” he explained.

Reaching the 100,000 mark has been pivotal in Defra’s decision to commission research into the damage caused, the NFU said.

Report cases

The NFU has urged farmers and landowners to supply evidence of near-misses and damage caused by sky lanterns.

The union said the 200,000 sky lanterns released in the UK each year were a fire risk to property and a threat to livestock.

It added that the wire frames and floating flames were highly dangerous and could start wildfires, kill livestock, destroy crops and set homes and buildings alight.