Sky lanterns

[pie_and_a_pint]

An interesting article on sky lanterns is on Countryfile tonight. Footage from the West Mids fire service of a major fire caused by one, and more relevant to us lot is a farmer from Buckinghamshire who's lost several cows to lantern wires in the last couple of years

[Spindles]

I remember the fire in the midlands recently, I also remember the claims of some that such things never caused fires.

They are banned. Don't take them. Last year the message seemed to be getting through, although some still ignored the rules. There was an amusing moment on the Wednesday night at the opening ceremony at the stone circle when someone tried to set one off and failed to a chorus of disapproval.

[JayBalls]

It's just extravagant littering.

Edited February 23, 2014 by JayBalls

[nat_appleshaker]

I remember one getting caught in the tree towards the back of the pyramid field a few years back, someone had to use their flagpole to knock it out to stop the whole tree going ablaze.

[zero000]

Bit of a shame they're so shit for the environment and dangerous really. I remember sending an absolutely sickening text to my then girlfriend about how beautiful they all were coming up over the stone circle and how I wished she could be there to experience them with me. Needless to say I was absolutely out of my head at the time

[Porcelina]

Saw them on their last tour.

They took a while to peak but they've been on the gradual decline ever since, but they might still show up around the acoustic stage for a twilight set.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Porcelina

[grumpyhack]

I'm completely opposed to sky lanterns at festivals. They don't always float safely away from the site. Sometimes the paper catches fire and the lantern plunges quickly to earth. Image if one comes down on a field full of tents.

Very pretty but not worth the risk.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

They really are things of beauty when in flight, but not really appropriate for Glastonbury. I think they make environmentally friendly ones now, but still would have worries that they'd set something on fire accidentally.

While on the subject, it must have been fairly cosmic being at this event;

[guypjfreak]

i thought it funny when the bloke said they were better than fire works especially when a quite a few are let off at the same time ...............nutter

[rischbrit]

One landed on my tent in 2009. Thankfully no damage caused and it had burnt out prior to landing. Made me realise how bloody big they are!!

[lucyginger]

They are banned. Don't take them. Last year the message seemed to be getting through, although some still ignored the rules. There was an amusing moment on the Wednesday night at the opening ceremony at the stone circle when someone tried to set one off and failed to a chorus of disapproval.

[Mr Splodge]

They are dangerous please don't take them "love the farm, leave no trace".

[PurpleFire]

They are an uncontrolable arrow on fire.

[tommyds]

They are an uncontrolable arrow on fire.

[UEF]

Agree with all the above - it's a shame as they look really great, and they cost £1 each in Poundworld, but are incredibly liable to causing a lot of damage. It's like sending your camp bonfire up into the sky on an unpredictable path for 10 minutes... wouldn't set one off now and in the "anything goes" atmosphere of Glastonbury you know they'd have to be fairly serious to ban them.

[A13]

I've been opposed to them ever since that James, or whatever his name was, kid let one off in the James & The Giant Peach film..

[Sawdusty surfer]

Don't do it.

Edited February 25, 2014 by jamesontheverge

[karaseen]

Monday morning in Pennards I saw some kids lighting some. One came down near us and started someone's tent on fire. Luckily no one was in there, but there things were still there. Bloody assholes.

[Peroni]

Hate them. One landed on my head at pyramid in 2010... nasty things. Quick thinking and a stop drop and roll saved me from serious injury

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Hate them. One landed on my head at pyramid in 2010... nasty things. Quick thinking and a stop drop and roll saved me from serious injury

[guypjfreak]

are they still on sale on here ???

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

are they still on sale on here ???

[stardustjunkie]

It was quite something in 2010, a sky full of lanterns, I have to admit. It was my first year and it was just a bit amazing to look up at all the lanterns that had filled the sky.

In hindsight I dread to think how much damage that many lanterns caused. I think they need to be banned in the UK (I don't think they have been yet ), and I fully support Glastonbury banning them, as beautiful as they can be.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Thinking about it I might be able to sell my lanterns to some mice who want a different perspective on the world. They could climb aboard and fearlessly launch themselves off. Rodent Chistopher Columus's, but in air travel rather than sea. I think this has got legs. I must do a business plan for it and present it to my bank manager to see if he'll get on board with pre-financing the operation.

I have a friend who has got a framed copy of a response to a letter he wrote to his bank manager. The letter back to my mate includes the following - 'Dear Mr X, I am very sorry to hear that you are getting bad vibrations from your dealing with this bank.'

[Bisque]

Didn't someone tie their hamster to a sky lantern & set it off over Great Yarmouth?

An older couple found it in their garden in Gorleston & killed it with a hammer because they thought it was a rat.