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2020 saw a significant rise in the irresponsible use of BBQs, presenting a major risk of wildfire with potentially devastating effects. In just one weekend rangers working with the fire service extinguished over 60 unsafe BBQs. Numerous areas of scorched earth were left across the protected habitats when a fire warning is still in place.
Disposable BBQs are:
The New Forest has now been declared a complete no BBQ and fire zone. BBQs and fires of any kind are no longer permitted in car parks or any areas of the Forest managed by Forestry England, National Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wellow Parish Council. All BBQ facilities at Forestry England sites have been removed and prominent no BBQ signs are at Forestry England car parks and information points.
Following our plea, 63 shops and outlets in and around the New Forest have now taken disposable BBQs off sale. We’re continuing the campaigning in 2023 and will be recruiting additional outlets this year to support a BBQ-free New Forest.
Outdoor fires in the New Forest fell by 40% in 2021 compared with 2020 and 30% less than 2019 before the pandemic. We have worked with independent and national retailers to ban the sale of disposable BBQs in and around the New Forest. Neighbouring councils such as Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council have now also set up campaigns to control the use of disposable BBQs in protected landscapes and have been asking local retailers to withdraw them from sale.
In June 2021 Co-Op led the way nationally, taking the unprecedented decision to remove disposable BBQs from sale in stores within a mile radius of national parks in the bid to stop wildfires.
In March 2022 Waitrose and Aldi decided to nationally ban disposable BBQs in all their stores to reduce fire risk and cut down on waste by taking single-use BBQs off sale. Aldi said its ban on them would remove 35 tons of single-use waste packaging.
The issue has been discussed in Parliament (see below) and in summer 2022 Keep Britain Tidy launched its #BanTheFlamingThings campaign.
We still need your help. Please ask your local store to stop selling disposable BBQs and to display the poster shown below. If you’re a retailer, please let us know you’re supporting our campaign by emailing communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk, and we’ll add your name to the list.
3 MAY 2023: Theresa Villiers MP debate in the House of Commons: ‘…let us go a step further and ban disposable barbecues as well. They are a fire hazard and can cause injury. It is truly appalling that people simply leave them behind after a day out, and tragic that they are left on some of our most beautiful beaches and our greatest beauty spots. Even a farm in my constituency has had to contend with this problem.’
22 NOVEMBER 2022: Selaine Saxby MP presented a 10 Minute Rule Bill on 22 November 2022 to restrict the use of disposable BBQs.
3 AUGUST 2022: Marks & Spencer announced it will ban the sale of disposable barbecues across all its UK stores to help protect open spaces and reduce the risk of fires. They had already stopped selling disposable barbecues near national parks and in London but given the unusually hot and dry conditions, they took the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK.
17 NOVEMBER 2021: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill on disposable BBQs
‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the use of disposable barbecues on open moorland;
to give local authorities the power to prohibit the sale of disposable barbecues in their area;
and for connected purposes.’
The New Forest campaign is cited as an example.
13 MAY 2021: Retailers and landowners back ban the BBQ campaign.
AshurstWelcome store |
BartleyBartley Post Office Fourway Stores Dobbies Garden Centre |
BashleyBashley Village Stores Loaders Garage |
BeaulieuFairweather’s Garden Centre |
BlackheathBlackheath Hardware |
BoldreShallowmead Nurseries East Boldre Post Office |
BramshawBramshaw Village Store |
BrockenhurstGates of Brockenhurst Premier store Setley Ridge Farm Shop Setley Ridge Farm Vineyard & Garden Centre Streets Ironmongers Tesco Welcome store |
BurleyBurley Coach House Shappen Stores |
CadnamCourtesy filling station / Budgens |
ChristchurchCastles of Christchurch Ltd Waitrose Sainsburys |
Dibden, HytheTesco |
FordingbridgeCo-op Gourmet Grocer Hockey’s Farm Shop Hyde Farm Shop |
HordleHordle Garage / Budgens Co-op Food |
Hythe / Dibden / BlackfieldBailey’s Builders Blackfield Hardware J R Hardware Sargents Butchers Waitrose Sainsbury |
LandfordLandford Post Office |
LongdownLongdown Dairy Farm Shop |
LymingtonCrystals of Lymington Waitrose Marks and Spencer Co-op Food – Petrol |
LyndhurstCo-op Leisure Fayre Tesco |
MarchwoodWelcome store |
Milford-on-SeaCo-op |
New MiltonNaked Pantry Nisa Local Morrisons |
PilleyPilley Community Shop |
RingwoodWaitrose |
RomseyLockerley Green stores Waitrose |
SwayBudgens |
TottonBest Buy DIY Sunnyfields Farm Morrisons |
VerwoodMorrisons |
WoodgreenWoodgreen Community Shop |
West WellowNisa Local |
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