"While sky lanterns might look spectacular, the potential for harm when they descend is catastrophic" - Alan Hiscox British Horse Society Director of Safety

While these lanterns might look spectacular, the potential for harm when they descend is catastrophic.

Many who marvel at the sight would be horrified to learn of the terrible injuries and deaths horses and other animals have experienced due to these lanterns, which are intended to bring good luck. They bring anything but this to farmers, horse owners and landowners.

The BHS has received terrible reports of internal and external harm caused by wires from these lanterns – with animals having to be euthanised in the worst cases. It has also received reports of three horse fatalities and eight horse injuries, and only one in 10 people report these incidents to us.

We also hear stories about beautiful birds, like owls, getting trapped in these burning devices in flight. And there are risks to buildings, dry standing crops, forestry, hay stacks, heather moors and habitats.

Many lantern manufacturers say they are fully biodegradable and do not contain any wire. But while this is a positive step from an environmental perspective, there still has to be some material which will give the lantern structure and therefore offers the potential for animals to eat them or become trapped and injure themselves.

Bamboo is frequently used but disintegration of such materials is not instant and therefore the lanterns will present the same hazards, biodegradable or not.

Many councils have taken the cause on board and are banning the release of lanterns on council-owned land. I was delighted to read that Richmondshire District Council has unanimously approved banning their release at almost 100 sites owned by the authority.

Our advice to horse owners and all other interested parties is to be vigilant. Make sure you check fields and hedgerows for these lanterns – particularly so with Halloween and Bonfire Night coming up. If you are aware of any incident involving sky lanterns please report it to horseaccidents.org.uk.

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