Assembly is simple – just attach the spike to the stake and charge for 48 hours in the off position before the first use. We tested a variety of solar lights, putting them through their paces in a range of urban, suburban and rural gardens across the country.

Eureka Solar Firefly Lanterns | Firefly Lanterns | Powerbee Ltd

Powered by solar panels, they absorb daylight and convert it to electrical energy, charging your lights so they’re ready to go at night. We made sure to check if the lights worked on overcast days, and finally if there was any sign of degradation or rusting. We are able to arrange for a collection if that is easier for you, just get in touch and we can help with this.However, it’s fiddly to reach the on/off switch, and the instructions don’t show where to find it either.

Solar Copper Hanging Firefly Lantern with LED Marco Paul 4 x Solar Copper Hanging Firefly Lantern with LED

Despite all the features, these lights are expensive compared to the other options we tested and come with just a year’s warranty. This pretty lantern needs no assembly other than leaving it to charge for 48 hours in the off position and is a good choice if you don’t have a south-facing garden, because you can leave it in the sunniest spot during the day to charge and then move it to a shady corner to add a warm glow once it’s dusk. After this, turn it on and when the light levels drop it will flick on and provide up to six hours of bright light. However, it was pipped to the post by the Damasque lantern as its parts aren’t replaceable and its light is a little dim. We have added one of these lamps to the corner of each of the boxes built so far and they look beautiful at night.

The solar panel is frost resistant and large enough to power the lights through even grey winter days and the lights switch on as soon as the light starts to fade at dusk.