'Still much work to do': Farming union urges 17 Scottish councils to ban sky lanterns

NFU Scotland has called on 17 councils still to put a ban in place to take action
NFU Scotland has called on 17 councils still to put a ban in place to take action

Farming union NFU Scotland has called on 17 Scottish councils to put a sky lantern ban in place following extensive lobbying.

Following lobbying which has taken place since October, seven local authorities have now banned the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons on their land.

However, the union says there is still much work to do, as 17 councils have yet to take action.

Ahead of bonfire night last year, the union wrote to all of Scotland’s councillors of those local authorities which did not have bans in place, to call on them to help protect farms, crofts and the countryside.

Councils who have banned sky lanterns and balloons since the union’s correspondence are: Inverclyde Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Fife Council, East Lothian Council, West Lothian Council and Dundee with Edinburgh City Council currently putting measures in place.

They join Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Falkirk, Highland, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands, which have already banned the release of sky lanterns and/or helium balloons.

'Make the countryside a safer place'

NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick, commented: “We need those who have yet to take action to take this forward to make our countryside a safer place for animals and people.

“Sky lanterns are seemingly innocent devices, and are beautiful to look at, but 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 applaud the action already taken against sky lanterns by seven Scottish local authorities and we urge other councils to take their responsibilities as seriously. We also ask members of the public to avoid the use of lanterns and to understand the risks that these can pose.”