Sir,
NFU Scotland has stepped up its lobbying on the issue of sky lanterns in recent months. Although sky lanterns are seemingly innocent devices, and are beautiful to look at, they can cause untold damage as there is no control over where these burning structures of paper, metal and wood decide to land. Across the UK, there have been many reports now of fires started by lanterns and harm to the health of livestock when lanterns have landed in farmers’ fields and been eaten. There is a further risk to stock when grass is cut and ensiled for winter feed, and the wire is chopped up and subsequently contained in hay or silage.
We ask the public, particularly as the wedding season approaches, to consider an alternative method of celebration and avoid the use of sky lanterns and helium balloons.