A Chinese lantern ready to launch. Photo: Jon Smith CC-BY-SA-2.0
National park bosses have appealed to the public not to launch Chinese lanterns which are causing problems in the countryside.
The plea came from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority after reports the flaming paper lanterns were causing a fire risk and leading to false alarms for mountain rescue teams.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s head of ranger services Alan Hulme said newspapers had carried stories of mountain rescue teams around the country being called out after sightings of ‘distress flares’, only to find they are lanterns. There is also the risk that, in dry conditions, they could start fires when they land, he added.
In June Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said people should think twice about using sky lanterns at celebrations because they are causing problems in the countryside.
He said that, after floating for many miles and falling to earth the burnt-out remnants could hurt livestock and litter fields.
Farmers have reported that sheep, cattle and horses are being injured, and in some cases dying, from eating the metal wire frames, which pierce their internal organs. They also report they are being forced to scour fields to pick up the remains of the lanterns.
Malcolm Petyt, the authority’s member champion for recreation management, said: “These lanterns may seem a fun way of celebrating some happy event, but please think of the possible consequences for other people affected by them.”
Park bosses also said parts of the area are being spoiled by thoughtless litter louts.
They urged visitors to the Dales to shop anyone they see leaving litter in the countryside and to take their own litter home.
The approaching August bank holiday has put rangers on alert for an influx of inconsiderate litter-dropping visitors and the authority warned culprits face a fixed penalty if they despoil the Dales.
Litter also creates a hazard for wildlife and farm stock.
Mr Hulme said: “A small minority of people who can’t be bothered to clear up after themselves, either because they are too thoughtless or too lazy to take it home, are spoiling this very special landscape for everyone else.
“They are leaving all sorts of things behind – from disposal barbeques to drinks cans – and they don’t seem to realise that it can be harmful to wildlife as well as being unsightly.
“Animals can easily get their heads stuck in discarded food jars and cans and cut themselves on jagged metal edges.
Fixed penalties can be handed out by rangers in Lower Wharfedale
“In addition, glass bottles can start fires in hot weather by magnifying the sun’s rays.
“As well as asking visitors to take their rubbish home, we would ask others to report anyone they see leaving rubbish behind to any of our rangers.”
Last September the authority teamed up with Craven District Council to launch a pilot scheme in the Lower Wharfedale area to tackle some of the anti-social behaviour that affects both locals and visitors to the area.
Two authority rangers now have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to people who leave litter behind and to dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
