Bonfire Night can be lethal for wildlife, but not if you follow these tips from Fife’s Ecology Centre.
Liz Corke is education manager at the Ecology Centre in Kinghorn.
She tells us how to enjoy a Bonfire Night while keeping wildlife, and people, safe.
What’s hiding in your bonfire?
“The main one is wildlife in your bonfire,” says Liz.
“Especially if you’ve had it built for a while, or you’ve been building it over time.
“A lot of things will have moved in because they’ll think it’s a nice home for them for the winter.”
Liz advises people to build their bonfire “at the last minute” so animals don’t have time to move in.
Wildlife including field mice, hedgehogs and tiny bugs will see a potential bonfire as an attractive looking hideout during the autumn months.
“It’s exactly the time of year that animals are starting to look for shelter.
“Building your bonfire at the last minute is the best way.”
Be careful what you burn
“I’ve seen all sorts of things being burnt.
“Mattresses are a really common one, so are sofas.”
Furniture which contains synthetic fibres and plastic, and treated wood, give off chemicals when burned.
This is not only bad for the environment, but a health risk to anyone standing near the bonfire.
“Furniture isn’t a good idea because it will have been treated with something and gives off a lot of chemicals.
“The smoke inhalation would be a problem.”
As an environmentally friendly alternative, Liz suggests upcycling furniture instead of chucking it on the bonfire.
“Most of these things can be re-used, rather than just burned.”
Meanwhile, stick to untreated timber, sticks and leaves if making a bonfire.
Watch a professional fireworks display
Liz says there’s “no need” for a garden fireworks display.
This Bonfire Night tradition could harm wildlife.
She says there’s no way of ensuring plastic fireworks packaging will get cleaned up properly if you set off a rocket from your garden.
“If you’re having a fireworks display in your garden, your garden is probably not that big. The fireworks are unlikely to land back in your garden, which means they are difficult to clean up.
“A wild animal, or even a cat or a dog, might think that’s food, or they might get stuck in it. You see horrible pictures of birds with their heads stuck in plastic objects.”
If you’re keen to see fireworks, Liz advises finding a public display.
“The public displays probably have their place,” she adds.
“They’re a nice way to bring people together.”
There will be no fireworks displays in Dundee’s Baxter and Lochee parks this year because of safety concerns relating to the venues.
However, there are still plenty of events planned across Tayside and Fife.
Conversation