Is My Garden Big Enough?
Is My Garden Big Enough?
It's one of the most important questions to ask before planning a firework display at home:
Is my garden actually big enough?
It's easy to start by looking at the fireworks you'd like to buy. A better place to start is with the space you have available.
Once you understand the size and layout of your garden, you can choose fireworks that are appropriate for it and create a display that can be enjoyed from a suitable distance.
Start with the safety distance
Consumer fireworks are supplied with important safety information, including the minimum distance spectators should be kept from the firework.
Before buying your fireworks, measure your garden rather than relying on a rough estimate.
Think about where the fireworks will be positioned and where your family and guests will watch from.
The stated safety distance is a minimum, not a target that you need to squeeze your garden into.
If your available space doesn't allow you to maintain the required distance, choose a more suitable firework rather than moving spectators closer.
Planning more than just the space?
Garden size is only one part of putting together a safe and enjoyable display.
You'll also need to think about the firing area, spectators, weather conditions, neighbours, pets, securing your fireworks, your firing order and what to do after the display.
For the complete overview, read our [Guide to Planning a Back Garden Firework Display] before choosing your fireworks.
It's not just about the length of the garden
A garden might look large enough on paper, but its surroundings matter too.
Take a good look around the proposed firing area.
Are there trees or overhanging branches? Sheds, fences or greenhouses? Overhead cables? Neighbouring properties? Parked vehicles? Dry vegetation or other combustible materials?
You also need firm, reasonably level ground where the fireworks can be positioned and secured in accordance with their instructions.
This is why two gardens of apparently similar size may be suitable for very different displays.
Think about where everything goes
A simple way to plan your garden is to divide it mentally into two main areas.
The firing area is where your fireworks will be positioned.
The spectator area is where everybody watches the display.
There needs to be sufficient separation between the two throughout the display, based on the instructions supplied with the fireworks you're using.
Think about how people will move around too.
Make sure spectators don't need to walk through the firing area to enter the house, reach the garden gate, get to refreshments or use other parts of the property.
Children should remain appropriately supervised and pets should be kept away from the firing area.
Don't forget to look up
Garden dimensions aren't only about what is on the ground.
Trees and branches above the firing area can make an otherwise suitable location inappropriate. The same applies to overhead cables and structures close to where fireworks will operate.
So when you're measuring the garden, remember to look around and above you.
What's beyond your garden?
Your garden doesn't exist in isolation.
Look beyond the boundary and consider neighbouring gardens, houses, conservatories, sheds, parked vehicles and other property.
You should also consider where smoke and debris could travel, particularly in relation to the wind direction on the night.
This is one reason why assessing the garden should be about more than simply measuring a straight line from one end to the other.
What about the neighbours?
It's considerate to let your neighbours know when you're intending to have a firework display.
Giving them an approximate start and finish time allows them to make arrangements, particularly if they have pets or young children.
If your garden is surrounded by nearby properties, you may also want to consider lower-noise fireworks as part of your display.
A smaller garden doesn't have to mean a disappointing display
This is an important one:
Bigger fireworks don't automatically make a better display.
A well-planned selection of appropriate fireworks can produce a fantastic garden display.
Fountains, colourful effects and carefully selected cakes and barrages can be combined to provide variety, changes of pace and a strong finale.
Depending on your circumstances, you might also want to consider lower-noise products.
The trick is choosing fireworks to suit the garden rather than trying to make the garden suit the fireworks.
Measure before you shop
A couple of minutes with a tape measure before you start shopping can make choosing your fireworks much easier.
Before visiting us or selecting products online, it's useful to know:
- The approximate length and width of your usable garden
- Where you intend to position the fireworks
- Where your spectators will stand
- Any trees, sheds, fences, buildings or overhead obstructions
- What's immediately beyond your garden boundary
- Whether neighbouring properties are particularly close
- Roughly how many people will be watching
- Whether you'd prefer standard or lower-noise fireworks
If you're visiting us for advice, you could even take a couple of photographs of the garden to help explain the space you're working with.
Choose the fireworks for the garden — not the other way around
Once you know how much usable space you actually have, choosing suitable fireworks becomes much easier.
Rather than beginning with “What's the biggest firework I can buy?”, start with:
“What's going to give me the best display in the space I've got?”
That's a much better way to approach a garden display.
Not sure what will work in your garden?
That's where we can help.
At HEX Fireworks, we'd much rather help you choose fireworks appropriate for your available space than simply sell you the biggest products.
Tell us about your garden, the type of display you'd like and your budget, and we can help you put together a suitable selection.
Whether you're planning a small family celebration or want something with a little more impact, there are plenty of options available.
Start with the garden. Then choose the fireworks.
Measure your available space, check the safety information for every product and plan where your spectators and fireworks will be positioned before display night.
Then you can concentrate on the enjoyable bit — choosing the effects you want to see in the sky.
For more advice on putting everything together, continue with our How To - Plan a Back Garden Firework Display.
Need some help choosing?
Explore the range at www.hexfireworks.co.uk or get in touch with HEX Fireworks and tell us about the space you have available. We'll be happy to help you choose suitable fireworks for your garden.