Our Sustainable Bonfire Night

I adored bonfire night as a child. We’d get all wrapped up and walk to the village show that was run by some of the dads in one of the fields. Looking back it wasn’t a big or impressive event but to us it was magical. We’d buy panda pops from a stall one of the mums had set up, wave our sparklers and run around with friends while the bonfire burned and the rockets exploded showering us with colour. Everyone from school was there including most of the teachers. It was a big village event. There was a burger stall run by yet more parents and a much-visited sweet stand. It really was a wonderful night that has left me with many happy memories.

Sadly bonfire night isn’t actually very environmentally friendly and things like sparklers are filled with bad chemicals.

So what do we do?

At the moment it is easy as our children are young. We stay at home and build a nice big fire in our fire pit in the back garden and I make everyone vegan hotdogs (we all prefer the Plant Pioneer ones) with caramelized onions, ketchup and mustard. Then we roast some marshmallows and drink hot cocoa until we are too cold to feel our fingers. Once we head inside I have a nice big sticky toffee pudding for everyone to enjoy and the adults play a few games once the children are asleep. If the weather isn’t ideal then we light our log burner and have our hot dogs in front of the fire, which the children love just as much as they do the fire pit.

There are no fireworks and no sparklers, and we are okay with that and our children don’t know anything else and so do not feel that they are missing out.

But what will we do over the next few years when our children start school and there are school events and friends start to invite them to things?

The honest, short answer is that I don’t know. The more complicated answer is that looking into it there is no such thing as ‘eco’ sparklers or fireworks, though there are many companies out there trying to greenwash people. I want my children to have wonderful childhood memories just like I did but I also want them to grow up knowing that some things that are done are really bad for the planet.

So right now I am thinking that we will never buy fireworks and set them off in the back garden, but if it means a lot to them we will maybe go to the school display and discuss why it’s not the most eco-friendly choice of entertainment. If they want to try sparklers then we will maybe get them a packet once a year, or maybe we won’t. Present me is glad this is a decision for future me, but present me also knows how quickly the years fly by with little ones, so I’ll have to make a decision at some point.

Will I make the right choice?

I don’t think there is one. Not one that keeps my children happy all the time and is the right choice for the planet. I just have to explain to my children why I’m making the decisions I am and hope that when they grow up they understand the choices I make, forgive me for any wrong ones and know that I have done my best to make the planet a better place for them, while also trying to give them the best childhood memories I could.

Any other parents out there struggling with getting the balance right?

Wishing you a planet-friendly festive period,

Livvy and Summer