The Farmers’ Union of Wales today expressed its disappointment that a government study on the effects of sky lanterns and helium balloons on the environment failed to support calls for them to be banned.
Jointly commissioned by Defra and the Welsh Government, the study was carried out by ADAS into the risks of sky lanterns and helium balloons to livestock health and welfare; the environment (including litter); fire risk; damage to marine life and consumer safety.
"After consulting our members, the union called for an outright ban on the manufacture and sale of sky lanterns and for their release to be made illegal in the UK," said FUW land use policy officer Andrew Gurney.
"We received numerous reports from members of sky lanterns being found in fields which were being grazed, were about to be grazed, or cut for silage or hay.
"Other more serious reports received included a lantern found smouldering in a barn containing hay and straw and a cow injured following a stampede started by lanterns floating over fields containing livestock.
"ADAS concedes the evidence they received suggests widespread concern from farmers and others over the impact of sky lanterns on the health and welfare of livestock and horses.
"We were therefore very surprised and disappointed that they also said the evidence indicated the number of cases reported annually of animals affected through panic and fright and of ingestion of sky lantern debris was 'very small'.
"The study accepted there may be a significant level of under-reporting but, based on the evidence ADAS say they received, they found it difficult to conclude that the overall impact is anything other than 'of minor significance'.
"The report further states there may be a significant level of under-reporting of the evidence regarding the ingestion by animals of helium balloons but it indicated the impact is 'very small and confined to isolated incidents'.
"The study’s findings are disappointing because, in our evidence to ADAS, we stressed the union was wholly opposed to the release of sky lanterns due to the dangers they pose to the agricultural sector.
"The materials used in their construction pose a danger to livestock, particularly if the wire or bamboo from the frame of the lantern is chopped up during the silage making process and contaminates feedstocks.
"Sky lanterns also pose a considerable fire risk, during the dry summer months, to open heath land as well as to standing crops in fields or once harvesting has taken place and the crop is stored in fields or barns.
"On the issue of helium balloons, the impact usually relates to livestock becoming startled or frightened by balloons floating over fields and causing them to stampede or trample fencing resulting in injury and the associated welfare issues and financial costs.
"Despite the study’s findings, the union reiterates its call for an outright ban on the manufacture and sale of sky lanterns and for their release to be made illegal in the UK. We will continue to make the appropriate representations to bring this about."