Bonfire Night is drawing near! Wrapping up warm and venturing out to see an organised bonfire or firework display can be a fun night out for the whole family.
Fireworks and sparklers are always fun but it’s also important to remember how this can impact our environment, our health and surrounding wildlife. What’s more, bonfires can produce increased levels of particulates into the air which adds to our planet’s rising temperatures.
With all that in mind, we are sharing a few handy tips on what you can do to be more considerate to the environment on Bonfire Night:
Purchase eco-friendly fireworks
Traditional fireworks often have harmful chemicals that can pollute the air and stay in the smoke for a long period of time.
It’s great that eco-friendly fireworks are now an option. They are fuelled differently and produce less pollution, yet still result in a spectacular firework bang!
Are you considering having a bonfire?
Bonfires in your garden can cause an inconvenience and we do discourage garden fires in the borough. It’s important to note than what you burn can have a negative impact on both the environment and the health of the community.
For more information, please see Bonfire guidelines.
Be mindful of our hidden wildlife
Our wildlife in Elmbridge can be experts at hiding! Small species such as hedgehogs, mice and frogs may make a home in your log pile and are difficult to find.
To avoid accidently harming wildlife, it may be an idea to start constructing your bonfire on the day you plan to light it, and you should also avoid building it on existing mounds of leaves.
If this is unavoidable and you need to construct your bonfire ahead of time, it is good practice to build a barrier around the bottom to stop wildlife entering.
Lastly, ensure to complete a last-minute check around the bonfire area and lift the bonfire section by section before you light it.
Choose an organised event
One of the most eco-friendly and fun ways to enjoy a bonfire celebration is through attending a public display.
Gathering to enjoy a dazzling, larger show produces fewer emissions than hosting lots of smaller private events.
Not only is it a fun opportunity for the community to come together, but organised events will also ensure fireworks are properly cleaned up and disposed of the day after. This minimises the risk of plastic and toxic chemicals being left behind, which can often create issues for wildlife and the environment.
We hope you have a safe and sparkling bonfire night this 5 November.