How To - Plan a Back Garden Firework Display
There’s something special about enjoying a firework display in your own back garden. Whether it’s for Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve, a birthday or simply a family celebration, a little planning can make a big difference.
And planning shouldn’t begin with choosing the biggest firework on the shelf.
Before buying anything, think about the space you have available, where your spectators will stand, what surrounds your garden and the type of display you want to create.
Here are some of the most important things to consider when planning your back garden firework display.
1. Start with the size of your garden
Before choosing your fireworks, measure the usable space in your garden.
Every firework has important safety information, including a minimum spectator distance. You need enough room to position the firework appropriately while keeping your family and guests at or beyond that distance.
Don't rely on guesswork. A garden can feel quite large until you actually measure the distance between the proposed firing position and where everyone will be watching.
Remember that the stated safety distance is a minimum.
2. Choose a suitable firing area
Once you've established that you have sufficient space, decide where the fireworks will be positioned.
Look for firm, reasonably level ground and consider everything around the proposed firing area, including:
- Houses and other buildings
- Sheds, fences and greenhouses
- Trees and overhanging branches
- Overhead cables
- Parked vehicles
- Dry vegetation and other combustible materials
- Neighbouring properties
Don't forget to look upwards as well as around you.
The firing area should also remain separate from the spectator area throughout the display.
3. Plan where your spectators will stand
Decide where everyone will watch from before you start setting up your fireworks.
The spectator area needs to remain at least the appropriate minimum distance from the fireworks, based on the instructions supplied with each product.
Think about movement around the garden too. Ideally, spectators shouldn't need to cross the firing area to reach the house, garden gate, refreshments or toilets.
Children should remain under appropriate adult supervision and pets should be kept safely indoors.
4. Choose fireworks to suit the space
Once you understand the space you're working with, you can start choosing the fun bit — the fireworks themselves.
This is where good advice can make a big difference.
A larger firework isn't necessarily a better choice. A carefully selected combination of products appropriate for your garden can create a much more enjoyable display than simply choosing the largest items available.
Fountains can provide colourful effects at ground level, while suitable cakes and barrages can introduce aerial effects, changes of pace and impressive finales.
You might also consider lower-noise fireworks, particularly if you have close neighbours, young children, pets or livestock nearby.
At HEX Fireworks, we can help you choose products appropriate for your available space, budget and the type of display you'd like to create.
5. Think about the weather
Weather can make a considerable difference to a firework display.
Pay particular attention to wind direction and strength. Think about where the wind could carry smoke and debris and how that relates to your spectators, neighbouring properties, buildings, vehicles and other surroundings.
Conditions can also change, so check the forecast beforehand and reassess the conditions on the evening itself.
If conditions aren't suitable, be prepared to postpone your display.
6. Consider your neighbours
A little consideration goes a long way.
Letting neighbours know that you're planning a display gives them an opportunity to prepare, particularly if they have pets, young children or other reasons for wanting advance notice.
It's also worth considering the duration and timing of your display.
UK law places restrictions on the use of fireworks during night hours, with different provisions applying around certain celebrations, so make sure you're familiar with the current rules.
Take a look at our FAQs page for more information on the law regarding fireworks.
7. Read the instructions before display night
Don't leave reading the instructions until you're standing outside in the dark.
Take some time beforehand to understand how each firework should be positioned, secured and fired, together with its required safety distance.
Keep the instructions with the product and follow them.
Your fireworks should remain in their original packaging and be stored appropriately until required.
8. Secure your fireworks correctly
Fireworks need to remain correctly positioned while operating.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for positioning and securing individual products. Never improvise because something appears stable when you put it down.
Set everything up while you can see clearly rather than trying to organise the entire display in darkness.
9. Decide who is responsible for firing
It's a good idea to have one responsible adult in charge of the display.
That person should understand the firing sequence, know where everything is positioned and remain sober throughout the display.
Alcohol and fireworks aren't a good combination. Save the drinks for afterwards if you're the person responsible for firing.
10. Plan your running order
A little thought about firing order can transform a collection of fireworks into a display.
Rather than firing products randomly, consider starting with smaller effects and gradually building the scale and intensity.
Mixing different types of effects can create variety, while keeping something particularly impressive for the end gives your display a recognisable finale.
You don't necessarily need more fireworks — sometimes you just need a better plan.
11. Be prepared for a firework that doesn't operate correctly
Occasionally a firework may fail to operate as expected.
Never immediately approach or attempt to relight a firework that has failed to function correctly. Keep spectators away and follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding misfires and disposal.
This is another good reason to read all of the instructions before the display begins.
12. Have fire precautions ready
Think beforehand about what you would do if grass, packaging or another item caught fire.
Have an appropriate supply of water readily available and make sure the person responsible for the display knows where it is.
Good preparation means you aren't searching for something after a problem has occurred.
13. Don't forget the pets
Fireworks can be unsettling for animals.
Bring your own pets indoors well before the display begins and make sure they're secure. Giving neighbours advance notice also gives them time to make arrangements for their animals.
If noise is an important consideration, ask us about the lower-noise fireworks available.
For more information on how to look after pets during bonfire night please see our Fireworks and Pets page.
14. Check the garden afterwards
Once the display has finished, don't rush straight into the firing area.
Allow sufficient time, follow the instructions supplied with the products and deal appropriately with any fireworks that haven't operated correctly.
Once everything is safe, clear spent fireworks and packaging.
It's also worth checking the garden again in daylight the following morning for cardboard, spent components or other debris that might not have been visible at night.
A better display starts with a better plan
A great back garden firework display isn't simply about buying the biggest fireworks.
Start with your available space, establish where your spectators and fireworks can safely be positioned, consider your surroundings and then choose products that suit the garden.
Need help choosing?
At HEX Fireworks, we're happy to help you put together a display to suit your garden, occasion and budget.
Before visiting us, measure your available space and have a rough idea of where you'd like your spectators and fireworks to be positioned. That information can help us recommend suitable products.
If you're unsure where to start, our FAQ - Is My Garden Big Enough? guide is the perfect next read.
Visit www.hexfireworks.co.uk to explore our range or get in touch with the HEX Fireworks team for advice.