Soon we will be out clearing up our gardens and making way for spring. This time of year we like to open up our windows and bring fresh air into our homes. It’s also a time when people like to have the occasional bonfire and there are no laws preventing you from doing so. However you could always consider other ways of disposing of your waste such as composting and recycling?

If you do still want to light a bonfire then by following these guidelines it will help ensure your smoke is reasonable and respectful of your neighbours:

• Only burn dry material
• Never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres, or anything containing plastic, foam or paint
• Never use engine oil, meths, petrol or paraffin to light the fire or to encourage it
• Avoid lighting a fire when weather conditions are unsuitable. smoke hangs in the air on damp, dull days and in the evenings
• Avoid burning when the wind will carry the smoke over or into other people’s properties
• Avoid burning at weekends or holidays when people want to enjoy their gardens
• Avoid burning when the air quality is ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’
• Never leave a fire unattended or smouldering

Excerpt from Cherwell County Council Environment http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10282