Home Park balloon release

[JQuinn]

On 5 May a large group of people gathered in Home Park where they released a large number of blue balloons. I am wondering whether this event was advertised locally and whether any sort of permission was gained from the local authority. Balloon releases have negative impacts on the environment, especially wildlife, which can ingest fragments of balloons when they inevitably burst and/or descend to earth or sea. This is well documented by reputable organisations:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=uk

http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/pollutio ... t%20go.pdf

http://balloonsblow.org

Four balloons were still lodged in the branches of trees on 6 May.

Balloon releases do no good but can cause considerable harm. I hope that in the future there will be no more balloon releases in Sydenham, and I wonder what action can be taken to prevent further releases from taking place.

[Tim Lund]

Who were these people and why were they releasing these balloons?

[katvg]

I don't know for sure but think they were the friends and family of the poor school boy who was murdered (stabbed) as he fled through Home Pk and died in the chicken shop opposite the park a few years ago.

[leenewham]

It was the anniversary of Nicks death on the 5th, so it may well be.

[owlwise]

I hate balloon / chinese lantern releases. As you say, it's dangerous and polluting and whatever the reason for it, such a heinous act against the environment and nature should be banned.

[somerandombloke]

I rember a night in a mates garden when were all stoned and drunk he set one off and it got blown into a tree and set fire to it. We had to get the hose out an put it out. Hate the bloody things not just cos of that but because of selfish bloody hippies not thinking.

[JQuinn]

Well, I am sorry if that is what it was about. Obviously I didn't intend any insensitivity or offence towards those involved. However, I do still think that releasing balloons is not the best way to go about making whatever point one wants to make.