Gather round the fire pit for Bonfire Night, it's safer and so much fun!

This year Herefordshire based business woman and fire pit designer, Louise Wright, known to many as simply The Woodee, is urging people to consider using a fire pit this Bonfire Night.

Bonfire Night is such a special time, it’s an opportunity for families, friends and communities to come together around the fire; a time Louise herself loves but offers an alternative idea to the huge roaring fire that is traditionally put together and often unpredictable.

“Using a fire pit can be just as much fun,” says Louise. “They create warmth, a focal point to gather around and of course you can cook on them” and she feels they offer huge benefits to keeping us, our children and wildlife safe.

Gathering around a fire is magical but a bonfire can be hard work, you usually stand for hours and there is always a concern when small children are around and of course, the unpredictability of the weather. Consider also wildlife that may have crept into the bonfire for a sleep and that what you're burning might not be what it seems and you are actually contributing to damaging our environment. Maybe not quite as magical as you first thought but there is an alternative and with fire pit popularity growing year on year they are a strong contender as an alternative that is safer, kinder but still gives the opportunity to come together and enjoy a tradition that dates back as far as 1605.

Louise has been designing fire pits since she started her business with her husband Andrew in 2013, after designing a tool for their wood burner at home. Now everything she designs revolves around fire – beautiful things to house it, to tame it and to use it but she also has great respect for it and has put together some bonfire night facts and is hoping some people will consider trying something different this year.

Bonfire Night Facts to Consider

Children -

Bonfires can be so unpredictable and it is important to always keep children at a safe distance.
A fire pit keeps the fire contained in one place so it is much easier to manage children. They can be seated at a safe distance but still, be able to join in with marshmallow toasting and sparklers.

Wildlife -

Bonfires are large piles of wood and sticks which look like great hiding places for all sorts of birds and small mammals, including the hedgehog.
A fire pit gives you much more control, it can be built and lit just before you use it and it’s so much harder for wildlife to climb inside to sleep.

General Fire Safety -

Bonfires require a lot of space and need to be well clear of fences, sheds and hedges.
Fire pits require a lot less space and can be used on your patio.
Bonfires shouldn’t be left until it has burnt out
Fire pits can be purchased with a lid so it is far easier to dampen it down, secure the lid and leave.

Looking After Our Planet -

Bonfires are often created from whatever is lying around so you have no idea what you are releasing into the environment. You can only burn visibly clean wood that has not been painted or treated with preservatives; branches and leaves; and only small quantities of card and paper necessary to start the fire.

What you can’t burn on a fire pit:

● Green or damp garden waste
● painted or treated wood
● foam-filled furniture
● items containing polystyrene
● old furniture
● plastics and glass
● aerosols
● tins of paint and oil
● tyres and metal

Fire pits give you the choice to consider what you burn. Kiln-dried wood and hardwood briquettes specifically designed for cooking enable you to be kind to the environment whilst keeping warm and enjoying outdoor cooking.
Having fun on Bonfire Night can still mean being responsible, staying safe and looking after our environment.