30/07/2026
STOP. RELEASING. BALLOONS.
*and sky lanterns for that matter!*
Just a few weeks ago we highlighted the devastating consequences of balloon releases.
Now, another farmer has lost a cow after it choked to death on a balloon.
This is exactly why so many farmers, veterinarians, conservationists and animal welfare organisations continue to ask people to stop releasing balloons.
Balloon releases tend to be after a bereavement, or ones that have gone astray from a party. They are often done with love, remembrance, hope or solidarity. Gathering together to grieve or commemorate someone is incredibly important, and these events can provide comfort, connection and closure. Sadly though, they do not go 'up to heaven', and they are a poor way to celebrate or remember a life.
Balloons do not disappear.
They come back down.
And when they do, they become litter across fields, rivers, woodlands and our seas, where they can have devastating consequences for wildlife and livestock.
Balloon fragments and ribbons can:
❌ Be eaten by cattle, sheep, horses, wildlife, birds and marine animals
❌ Cause choking, intestinal blockages and starvation
❌ Entangle animals, leading to injury or death
❌ Persist in the environment for years, even if marketed as "biodegradable"
This latest incident is a tragic reminder that these are not hypothetical risks. Animals continue to die because of discarded balloons.
If you want to honour someone or mark an important occasion, there are many beautiful alternatives that don't put animals or the environment at risk:
💚 Plant a tree, shrub or wildflowers
💚 Support a local community or environmental project
💚 Light candles safely at an organised vigil or at home
💚 Share written memories in a memory book or online tribute
💚 Make a donation in someone's name
💚 Carry out an act of kindness in their memory
As one farmer recently said after finding yet another balloon in his fields:
"Releasing balloons is just as bad as throwing a plastic bag out your car window."
Good intentions deserve good outcomes.
Let's remember those we love in ways that leave a positive legacy—not one that risks the lives of animals.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8l510xg43o
https://www.mcsuk.org/what-we-do/pollution/marine-litter/plastic/dontletgo/
