A Bedfordshire farmer is urging a full ban on sky lanterns after finding one near his property. The National Farmers Union supports the call, citing fire risks to crops and animals. Fire services warn of extreme wildfire danger.
Calls for a nationwide ban on sky lanterns have intensified in England as wildfire risks escalate during the ongoing heatwave. Nigel Barnes, an arable farmer near Flitwick in Bedfordshire, discovered a sky lantern in a hedge by his driveway this week, narrowly avoiding a potential fire. He described the release of open flames into rural areas as a serious hazard, especially with fields and vegetation now tinder-dry.
Barnes has previously suffered crop damage from lantern-related fires, including an incident where several square metres of his fields burned after a wedding celebration. He is now backing the National Farmers Union (NFU) campaign for a government-imposed ban on sky lanterns across England and Wales. According to Barnes, the devices endanger not only crops but also livestock, businesses, and local communities. He urged the public to reconsider using sky lanterns, highlighting the risk of devastating blazes.
While more than 200 local councils, including Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Council, have already prohibited sky lanterns on their own land, the NFU points out that these voluntary bans do not extend to private property or public spaces. Where lanterns remain legal, users are required to follow manufacturer and aviation safety guidelines to avoid penalties. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has been approached for comment on the proposed ban.
Fire and rescue services across the region have renewed warnings as the Met Office's Fire Severity Index rates Bedfordshire as 'very high.' Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service stressed that even minor sparks or embers could trigger large-scale wildfires under current conditions. In neighbouring Hertfordshire, fire crews faced challenging situations over the weekend, tackling significant wildfires in Croxley Green, Hoddesdon, and Harpenden. Authorities are urging residents to dispose of cigarettes safely, avoid leaving glass bottles outdoors, and refrain from lighting campfires or bonfires. Woburn firefighters recently responded to a blaze in Aspley Woods that spread from an unattended campfire.
Southern, central, and eastern parts of England are now approaching drought status, prompting Thames Water to announce a hosepipe ban for all customers starting Thursday. The combination of prolonged dry weather and high temperatures has left the countryside especially vulnerable to fire outbreaks. As the risk of wildfires grows, the debate over banning sky lanterns has gained urgency among farmers and emergency services alike.
For context, concerns about fire safety and public behaviour during extreme weather have also surfaced in other areas. For example, recent analysis from specialists in Spain highlighted how certain habits can inadvertently increase risks or costs during heatwaves, underlining the broader impact of weather-related challenges across Europe.
Sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, are small hot air balloons made of paper with an open flame at the base. While often used for celebrations, their unpredictable flight paths and potential to ignite dry vegetation have led to growing calls for stricter regulation or outright bans in several countries. In the UK, the NFU continues to lobby for comprehensive legislation, arguing that voluntary measures are insufficient to protect rural areas during periods of extreme heat and drought.
