Sparks fly over lantern launch at duke and duchess’s castle
THE Duke and Duchess of Rutland have been criticised over plans to launch thousands of Chinese lanterns from the grounds of their castle during a summer festival.
Critics, including the local fire and rescue, RSPCA and National Farmers’ Union (NFU), claim the event poses a fire risk and threatens the safety of wildlife and the environment.
The family event, The Lights Fest, to be held at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, is billed as a “transformative experience” to culminate in “an eruption of sky lanterns”. Organisers said: “At the perfect moment, everyone ignites their personalised sky lanterns… and lets them take flight. It creates a surreal ambiance [sic], where time slows down and your single flame rises and joins with thousands of others to light up your life.”
Attendees will be given a package containing a sky lantern “to be released at a set moment, sending thousands of flickering flames into the sky at once”.
The backdrop to the event, the duke and duchess’s estate, comprises 15,000 acres. The couple separated in 2012 and live in different wings of the castle with their respective partners. Their marriage broke down after the duke had an affair with a woman who lived on the estate. In 2015, it emerged that the duchess had fallen in love with the castle’s estate manager, prompting comparisons to the plot of Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
The Lights Fest, a Us-based group, claims to use biodegradable lanterns customised to ensure they do not travel far. However, opposition to the event is growing. Alan Fawkner, risk manager at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are aware of the proposed event and following concerns raised by the public we have been in contact with both the event organiser and Belvoir Castle to raise our concerns and discourage the use of sky lanterns. We do not support or endorse this event, or any of its type.
“We stand by the national statement from the National Fire Chiefs Council that these floating lanterns not only constitute a fire hazard but also pose a risk to livestock, agriculture, camping activities, thatched properties and hazardous material sites.
“We have given appropriate advice to the event organiser and land owner stating our stance and concerns but we have no legal ability to stop the event as it is to be held on private land.”
The NFU warned that the mass release of lanterns “amplifies the risk involved”, while the RSPCA, which has called for a ban on sky lanterns, said: “These lanterns pose multiple dangers to animals, causing entanglement or entrapment. They can also be ingested, meaning sharp parts of the device can tear and puncture an animal’s throat or stomach causing horrific internal bleeding. Lanterns also act as a dangerous fire hazard, destroying habitats, and potentially setting animal housing, feed and bedding alight. Marine life is also endangered by lanterns falling into the sea.
“These horrible devices can have deadly consequences for pets, farm and wild animals. While it is encouraging to see a few councils in England have acknowledged the dangers and introduced a ban, there’s still a long way to go – a complete ban on sky lanterns is long overdue.”
Sky lanterns have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly at weddings.
A spokesman for The Lights Fest said: “We work hand in hand with local officials to make sure all concerns are addressed concerning safety and the environment. The lantern style that we are bringing to the event at Belvoir Castle will travel up to 500 yards and will not leave the venue boundaries.”
‘These horrible devices can have deadly consequences for pets, farm and wild animals’