CLA warns of Chinese lantern threat to livestock and crops

Landowners in the South East are calling for tighter controls over the construction and use of Chinese Lanterns as the wedding season gets into full swing.

The wire framed lanterns – which lift into the air with a lighted candle inside them – have become a popular addition to wedding festivities but the CLA says people need to understand the threat they pose to livestock and to standing crops.

The problem is that the paper lanterns burn out leaving the wire frames to fall to earth. Sales of the lanterns are rising year on year and the CLA says users should consider the potential for injury to livestock and damage to crops.

A landowner in Kent said: "I picked one up just this morning in a field. They are very worrying for livestock farmers. The wire can easily be chopped in to the silage and a cow would be unable to detect it or spit it out. The agony of seeing cattle suffer from their stomach walls being pierced is dreadful. We have a wedding venue on the estate and already discourage use but I will now change that to banning them."

A landowner in Surrey said: "Our main problem is with forage harvesters during the silage season. Because of their sensitive metal detectors they have to stop and start, which slows everything down. Our main fear is the fire risk of standing crops, at their most flammable at the height of the wedding season, and to timber framed and clad buildings."

A landowner in Sussex told local media: "They pose a risk to animal welfare and they are a fire hazard too. We've had seven altogether in the past month and the wires are so thin that they could get around an animal's foot and embedded in the skin. Also If one of these drops into a silage field or a hay crop, your cattle could be eating wire."

Another Sussex landowner commented: "It is not of course just ripening arable crops and hayfields but thatched roofs, conifer plantations, heathland and so on. On a wider issue there is the problem of additional litter in the countryside."

A local land agent added: "I have now specifically added a contract clause in venue letting agreements banning such things.  Not always popular with the wedding party I'm afraid."

A Hampshire gamekeeper reported: "Last September I came across approximately 25 of these lanterns spread out. Some were hung in trees and hedges, most were on the ground. One had fallen into a partridge pen and was obviously still lit when it landed as part of a straw bale was singed. Another had started burning stubble nearby but luckily the heavy dew had prevented serious damage, but it is clear these lanterns are not always burnt out before they land. I found out who was responsible and returned them to where they were launched. There had been a wedding reception held at this property the previous day and approximately 30 were launched that evening. The gentleman claimed they were totally biodegradable so did not pose a problem. Almost a year later I could take you to where two of these lanterns have definitely not degraded.

"To some of us humans they probably look quite impressive, however at night, it goes without saying they would most definitely startle stock animals, wild animals and birds alike and would most definitely endanger road traffic across a very wide area. My main concerns apart from the disturbance to animals would be the fire risk and the widespread litter they create."

A Hampshire landowner said: "Last summer we had loads across our land. They are a big fire risk. They also risk damaging the combine with the wire frame. They are a disaster waiting to happen and also a bloody mess."

A Berkshire landowner said: "I am concerned about the nuisance caused by these and the risk to woods, heathland, crops, straw, hay, animals and thatched houses."

A Buckinghamshire land agent said: "We have had considerable experience of Chinese lanterns and have advised our team not to permit their release for weddings held on the estate we manage.

"We make hay and have Highland cattle so the fine circular wire is a serious problem."

A Buckinghamshire landowner said: "We have no personal evidence of harm, thank goodness, but I pick up about 30 a year, and I really check before we make silage.  Why can't they make them with plastic frames? I'm sure they wouldn't catch fire, as the paper doesn't."

A farmer from the same county added: "I didn't even know what these Chinese lanterns were until a couple of weeks ago. Then I lulled myself into a sense of false security because our farm is five miles from the nearest village (and possible source of Chinese lanterns). Then yesterday I and my hay/silage contractor were inspecting the fields that will be cut in a few weeks time and found some even this far out. It's scary. Please do all you can to inform the (probably naïve) public of the possible consequences of using the lanterns."

So far two deaths have been reported: a cow died after swallowing the remains of a lantern in Cheshire, which ruptured its stomach, and a foal in Shropshire had to be put down after it injured itself on a fence because it had been scared by one of the decorations.

Arable farmers have raised concerns that the lights could set fire to fields of standing crops or dry hay and straw in summer. While the lanterns are supposed to remain airborne until they have burned out, if they get caught in a tree or building, they could come back to earth sooner than intended.

CLA South East regional director Rupert Ashby said: "I can understand why Chinese lanterns are so popular. They are captivating as they drift away on a summer's night, and we don't want to be killjoys. We just want people to think what happens to them once they land, just as they might consider the consequences of leaving anything behind in the countryside. Insisting on versions with a biodegradable alternative to wire would make a huge difference. The fire risk remains however, so people should think carefully about the surroundings before letting them off."