SarahJo Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I saw some last night - though did take a few moments to figure out what they were. I then tried to decide for myself what exactly they were made of and how environmentally/safe they were I then took our dog out for a walk today - and found some that had floated back down to earth - came home and googled - finding http://www.skylanternsonline.co.uk/9-heart-and-football-lanterns/ amongst other eco-lanterns and Macmillan charity ones My brother saw some and thought they were UFOs - - now I wonder are they worth it and how many of you have sailed one or two into the night sky My 40th is coming up - along with ES birthday on the same day, so might get some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 My friend who is a farmer hates them with a passion because they're dangerous to livestock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Ahhhh - I see you're point as the ones I found looked like they were scarves that had been lost in the snow, which were then revealed through the thaw, until closer inspection. The eco-ones are made of rice paper and bamboo - so I wonder if they are better. I still question though as what went up does come down, and you could see the flame go out on the lanterns I did have an immediate thought of littering - as these things must take a while to decompose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I'm not keen - not too bad at this time of year, but as a camper I am paranoid about them coming down on my tent! I think the fire services have also had to attend farm and barn fires caused by them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Not just to livestock either, the metal ones can damage the machinery as they go over the fields and even if it doesnt there are then bits of metal in with the crop. Umm Plus the fact some people just dont think. Last summer we were on a campsite (yes so FULL of tents) and were surrounded by fellow campers celebrating a 40th birthday who decided to let off numerous lanterns. Maybe I'm a scaredy cat but I was worried about the safety of it particualry as DS was asleep inside our tent as were many other kids. A fellow camper commented the next morning that they had previously been at an event where the lanterns had crashed back down and narrowly missed hurting someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Fluffyfeet nearly lost her tent at Tashas last year when some were let off at the campsite I've never seen lwescott move so fast as he chased after it in full hero mode to save the tent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Fluffyfeet nearly lost her tent at Tashas last year when some were let off at the campsite I've never seen lwescott move so fast as he chased after it in full hero mode to save the tent Yes he was a hero I think the weather conditions have to be just right for these things Which reminds me, we should set a date for this year's BBQ at my place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Fluffyfeet nearly lost her tent at Tashas last year when some were let off at the campsite I've never seen lwescott move so fast as he chased after it in full hero mode to save the tent Yes he was a hero I think the weather conditions have to be just right for these things Which reminds me, we should set a date for this year's BBQ at my place Woo hoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 And when a tent goes up in flames, it goes very very quickly! Scary! Yay, another BBQ at Tasha's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 We were at friends' for New Year with a great view of the fireworks over Edinburgh Castle but also of about 40 lanterns sailing past . I'd never seen them before but although they looked lovely (albeit a bit like an alien invasion ) I did wonder what the impact of them coming down would be . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I did do my hippo impression to save the tent I bought some of the eco bamboo ones online and whenever we've set them off you can see them fly up then eventually the fuel burns out and they come back to the ground. I can understand the problems that could be caused with a flame and the lanterns, but the rice paper and bamboo will biodegrade ... its only the same as a stick and a few leaves being in a field 'cos the ricepaper disintegrates when it gets wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 If I do ever get some - I will go with the eco-lanterns, as I did examine the fallen ones and they looked like they might take a while to dissapear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Im not a fan of them, they are dangerous to animals and are just litter... my friends dad almost lost his sight when some of the paraffin dripped narrowly missing his eye. they go along with my thoughts on fireworks!! far to dangerouse to be in public use - no matter how careful you are with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I'm inclined to agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Fluffyfeet nearly lost her tent at Tashas last year when some were let off at the campsite I've never seen lwescott move so fast as he chased after it in full hero mode to save the tent Yes he was a hero I think the weather conditions have to be just right for these things Which reminds me, we should set a date for this year's BBQ at my place No, Lewis wasn't a hero - he was a very naughty boy after I'd told him they were dangerous - and he laughed at me The Eco ones still have the capability of setting fire to dry grassland and hay and straw bales so much as I'd love to have some I won't buy any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 No, Lewis wasn't a hero - he was a very naughty boy please tell me that I'm not the only one who read that line, and heard Lesley in a "Life of Brian" style voice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 It was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 We found one in our front garden yesterday, looked quite substantial with metal wires. It's now in my bin. I read a news report a while back about a little girl who was badly burnt on the face after the burning part fell out as it was floating away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Just showing my age here, but weren't Chinese lanterns the lights that hung in Chinese restaurants. You know the ones hexagonal fretwork wooden frames usually black lacquered with a low wattage light bulb inside?.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 They were. Here's an article about them from the BBC [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11265560/ Sorry link hasn't linked properly, I'm on my iPhone & it's fiddly to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Just showing my age here, but weren't Chinese lanterns the lights that hung in Chinese restaurants. You know the ones hexagonal fretwork wooden frames usually black lacquered with a low wattage light bulb inside?.... No, they're the orange, papery, seed cases of a garden flower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 We were given two of these for Christmas (not quite the oddest presents as I also had a large bag of parsnips fresh from the garden tho sadly not ours - delicious!!) We live in the country and have heard from numerous farmer freinds that these are a real pain. We put ours in the recycling bin - just not worth the risk. Kiev Korma Casserole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 No, Lewis wasn't a hero - he was a very naughty boy please tell me that I'm not the only one who read that line, and heard Lesley in a "Life of Brian" style voice Me too! An acquaintance has a lurcher called Brian... because he's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Decided against these for my birthday - but see they are on the news just before Chinese New Year, this week. Problems due to ones being let off near to airports - if its not volcanic ash, its Chinese Lanterns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I have fifty of these......... non eco ones too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
