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Ban The Bang! Environmentally Friendly Firework Display
OK, we do of course realize that
fireworks can't exactly be called environmentally friendly because
the pollution and emissions they create, from manufacturing to
being set off, are not exactly planet friendly.
So what we mean when we say environmentally friendly is that your
firework display should not harm aspects your local environment,
and that means animals and birds - both wild and pets. On an social
environment level we mean that your firework display should not
disturb other people living in your neighbourhood. This may be
the elderly, young children, people with a nervous disposition,
or even ordinary people who are simply fed up and feel violated
by the unsociable noise caused by fireworks.
So, if you are organising
a home firework party, Ban the Bang! strongly encourages you to
make it an environmentally friendly display and follow these simple
rules:
1. Choose only NOISE-FREE GROUND
FIREWORKS.
2. Although you will be using noise-free,
low level fireworks, make sure you have plenty of space in your
garden so that fireworks are set off at a distance no nearer than
six metres from trees, shrubs and hedges. If you think there are
birds or small animals are living in the shrubs and hedges or
in nearby trees then even six metres is too close.
3. Even though it may be a noiseless
display be courteous to your neighbours by warning them that you
are going to use fireworks, so that pets are brought in. Even
the sight of noiseless fireworks and the crackle as they burn
can cause pets to run away and get lost.
4. Important information about
bonfires and hedgehogs etc.
If you are going to have a bonfire with your firework display
then before lighting please ALWAYS check deep inside the bonfire
to make sure small animals such as hedgehogs are not sheltering
or sleeping there. Bonfire heaps are a common place for hedgehogs
to hibernate. To make this process much easier, when you first
collect wood for a bonfire heap, assume that the heap is not the
bonfire itself but a pile next to where you will actually light
it. Then, on your firework evening freshly build the bonfire next
to the heap you have collected.
If you find hedgehogs curled up in your bonfire heap then find
a thick cardboard box and line it with a thick bed of newspapers.
Pack with dry, dead leaves and some straw if available. Put the
box on its side (so the hedgehog can walk out) and then carefully
put the hedgehog inside. Cover the hedgehog with more leaves and
cover the entrance lightly with leaves/straw. Locate the box in
a dry area, which is properly sheltered from rain and just high
enough off the ground (a couple of inches) to avoid risk of flooding
and excessive damp. Frogs and toads may also use bonfire heaps
for shelter, so keep an eye out for them too.
5. Set up a small sound system and
play soothing music that harmonizes with the peaceful spectacle
of colours and patterns from your noiseless fireworks.
And finally ... A Suggestion for Firework
Manufacturers:
Why not create peaceful, low level
firework box sets, based on "themes" to accompany relevant
styles of music?
What Else Can You Do To Help?
A
firework code to help wild animals and birds.
During firework celebrations, only buy fireworks that don't pose
a threat to wildlife. I.e. nothing that bangs or screams and no
aerial fireworks like rockets or starbursts.
If you have lots of trees in your garden then it's not a good idea
to have any kind of aerial type fireworks. Birds are quietly roosting
in trees all around you at night. Just because you can't hear or
see them doesn't mean they don't exist after sunset!
Protecting
your own pets.
Never
allow your pet outside during firework celebrations. If you have
animals in hutches outside and can't move them indoors, then cover
the hutches with heavy blankets. This will help reduce the noise
and the animal should also remain undisturbed by flashing lights.
Keep cats and dogs indoors, close windows and blinds and create
an audible diversion for them, like turning on some music - this
should be reasonably loud but soothing sounds to try and divert
the animal's attention from the outside).
If available in your country, get your cat or dog microchipped.
As we have already mentioned many cats and dogs run away from home
in a panic when there are fireworks around and tend to get lost.
With a microchip implant it's far easier to reunite an animal with
its owner.
Wild
animals and birds that are shocked or injured.
Keep an eye out for animals and birds in shock that
may have fallen from trees. In most cases human intervention will
add to the animals distress and we recommend you keep a watchful
distance from the animal / bird and make sure no one else goes near
it. If the animal continues to behave in a shocked state for more
than three or four hours or
is clearly injured then you should alert your local animal welfare
organization as soon as possible. They will send someone to investigate
further.
Important Note: Tell your local animal welfare organisation to link
up free with The
Lost and Found Animals Network (LaFAN).
If an animal is lost through fright during firework activities,
LaFAN provides a simple method for the public to track down a rescue
place in the vicinity of their lost animal. The LaFAN website address
is http://www.looking-glass.co.uk/lafan
Keep
a check on the elderly and young children.
The
elderly are particularly susceptible to loud disturbances. They
often live alone and have pets which can become nervous and agitated
by the noises. It's a good idea to check on elderly neighbours if
you think they or their pets may be suffering during firework periods.
Very young children also need comforting at night during loud firework
activity as they often wake up frightened by the bangs outside.
If you are
aware of any incidents involving the suffering of any animals through
the use of fireworks then please use our
contact
page
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Why
Ban The Bang! is not a "killjoy" campaign
Enjoy
an environmentally friendly firework display
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