At this time of year, once the clocks have gone back, it suddenly starts to feel a lot more like Autumn. As a young boy, the earlier nights meant one thing - Bonfire Night is just around the corner! One of my favourite times of year, I love the smell of bonfires, watching fireworks and writing my name with a sparkler. It always felt like such a cosy celebration, wrapping up warm, drinking hot chocolate and watching the fireworks with friends. However, for our wildlife, these festivities can seem very different. Here are some tips on how to enjoy Bonfire Night whilst also looking out for wildlife and the environment.

Unfortunately, the two main features of Bonfire Night, the bonfire and fireworks, are ultimately not environmentally friendly. Burning wood causes the carbon the tree has absorbed and stored over its lifetime to be released. Fires also releases tiny particles of soot which contributes to air pollution, a problem that already causes the death of over 260 people in Bristol a year, according to The Guardian. The introduction of the Clear Air Zone that’s coming to the city at the end of November is aiming to help with this problem. Instead of having your own fire at home, one way to help would be to go along to an organized event and enjoy theirs instead. This would mean less carbon and soot released and save you some tidying up!  

If you are going to have your own, consider what you are burning. Try to avoid burning any wood with varnishes or paints which when burnt, releases chemicals into the air and the lungs of all those enjoying the fire. When preparing your fire, try not to build it too long before burning it as this can allow time where animals might find the wood pile and think it looks like a good place to shelter.  Hedgehogs at this time of year will looking for places to star hibernating until the spring and a nice pile of wood can look like a cosy hibernating spot. Before starting any fires, have a look inside your bonfire pile to make sure nothing is sheltering inside.

Despite being fun to watch, fireworks also release carbon dioxide and other green house gases as they explode. The bright colours are created from burning different types of metals within the firework and these metals once burned become aerosols that can pollute the air, nearby water and soil. There is also the obvious impact of the loud noises which, if you’re a pet owner, will know that animals do not like. Nearby birds, bats and other wildlife can become very stressed from the repeated explosions.

Perhaps, like bonfires, the best way to reduce this impact is to avoid having private firework displays and go along to an organized event. Less pollution, saving you money and ultimately watching some better fireworks! If you desperately want to buy your own fireworks, you can get more environmentally friendly ones that have a clearer nitrogen-based fuel, so look out for those if possible!

After the fireworks are finished and the bonfire has burnt out, there is still more you can do to help. Unfortunately, Bonfire Night usually leaves a lot of litter in its wake. Plastic tubes, discarded sparklers and other bits of rubbish litter our streets, green spaces and parks. Perhaps you could organise a litter pick with your friends or community to do a tidy up?

Whatever you get up to this Bonfire night, enjoy yourself, be safe, look after each other and all our furred and feathered friends!