It’s hard when someone you love passes on.  Naturally you might want to do something to help everyone mark the occasion and celebrate their life.  Some people release balloons or Chinese lanterns into the sky.  But I recommend finding other ways to remember them instead.  Both of those methods can end up killing wildlife as they think it’s something edible especially if its brightly coloured or they just get tangled up in the ribbon.  Once ingested they can block their gut and they slowly starve.  I know for a fact I don’t want to be remembered in a way that can endanger wildlife.

If you do have your heart set on balloons make sure they are fully biodegradable and filled with air not helium (so they don’t travel as far).  But remember these special balloons can still take months to breakdown so finding an alternative is fair kinder for the environment.

Here are other suggestions you could try.

Finding a Safer Way to Remember those you have lost

Memorial Benches

These are a much nicer idea and my personal favourite.  A dedication can be added and if you buy one for the community everyone can benefit.  If your loved one had a favourite place you can ask for permission from the council to have it installed in that area.  If you have any concerns these Memorial Bench FAQs might point you in the right direction.  But they are a wonderful way to remember someone you love.  You can sit on the memorial bench and reflect on the good times you shared together.

The infographic below gives some ideas to inspire you when it comes to the wording.  I am hopeless for getting that right so some of you might also appreciate the pointers.

Credit: Garden Benches

Plant a Shrub or tree

These will help wildlife going forward.

You can do this yourself in your own garden so you can watch it flourish and grow or donate to the Woodland Trust who will do it for you.  Depending on how much you want to spend you can even dedicate a whole area of woodland to the person you have lost if you so desire.  It costs from £250 for a quarter acre of woodland or if you have a smaller budget you can make the suggested donation of £15 for an individual tree.

Virtual Balloon Release

Yes, that’s a thing and doesn’t impact the environment!  Because some people won’t stop releasing balloons even when certain councils have banned it maybe they can come onboard with this option instead.

Raise money for your loved one’s favourite charity

I also like this idea to mark the occasion of their passing.  We all have some cause or charity we feel committed about.  Why not raise funds for something that truly mattered to the one you loved and lost.

I hope with time balloon releases will be a thing of the past.  As more of us are being educated in the damage they do please look at other ways to remember those you love.