Think Twice on Flying Lanterns

New Forest Commoners and horse-owners join groups warning of high risks to the New Forest

A Joint Statement from the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, Forestry Commission, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, National Farmers Union, and the New Forest Equestrian Association

The Forestry Commission, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, and the National Farmers Union (NFU) have already warned over the risks from flying lanterns. Now the New Forest Equestrian Association (NFEA) and the Commoners Defence Association are adding their voices to call for people to be particularly alert to the dangers in the New Forest. The organisations are now issuing a joint warning.
Fiona Macdonald, Chairman of the NFEA said: “The risks within the New Forest area are particularly high, because there are so many typical smallholdings, with hay barns and timber and thatch outbuildings, close to New Forest towns and villages”
Graham Ferris from the CDA added: “The wire remains of these lanterns are now turning up on the open Forest. This puts commoners’ livestock at serious risk, needlessly adding to the risks that they already face”.

It is these risks, and the fact that lanterns have already killed livestock elsewhere, that led the NFU to call recently for a complete ban on flying lanterns, and the Forestry Commission to raise a local alert,
A spokesperson from the Forestry Commission said; “Chinese-style flying lanterns are obviously very attractive and becoming ever popular. However, the risk to heathland habitats in an area like the New Forest is extremely high as they can land or catch on something while still burning.. The current extreme dry weather accentuates this risk.”

As a result of these fears they have asked local tourism businesses to alert their visitors to the dangers. The warning from the organisations is clear: “We would urge people to think twice before setting lanterns off in the New Forest. The risks are simply too high a price to pay”.

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