Quick News

• Another hunt disbands
• Drone catches footage of BSV killing fox
• Hunt admits to “hunting foxes” – in writing
• Hunt spends £100,000 making civil claim against sab
• Boxing Day Wheelbarrow Run threatened by hunt meet
• Multiple Boxing Day Meet successes by AAF campaigners
• Scottish Government passes stringent grouse moor laws
• UK Government appoints grouse moor owner as unelected UK Animal Welfare Minister
• Quantock Staghounds attack sabs (again)

boxing day and New Year’s Day meets

The Southdowns and Eridge Hunt has decided to show up just before the Wheelbarrow Run in Lewes, and ride along the same route. The Wheelbarrow Run pipped the SDE to the post with the Boxing Day road closure application and is replacing their meet with a charity event which is fun for all. Unlike the Wheelbarrow Run, the Hunt has no road closure or any other permissions at all. AAF and the Wheelbarrow Run Team (WRT) have sent the hunt an open letter asking the hunt to parade elsewhere, as the leavings of their animals will impact the health and safety of the participants in the Wheelbarrow Run. Previously, the WRT asked for an extension of their road closure to 10 am, to be able to set up. Police, Highways and East Essex Transport all objected, as the road needs to be kept open at this time. If the hunt attends, they will be defying all these organisations as well as compromising a charity event.

After a lengthy AAF campaign, Pewsey Parish Council (Wiltshire) is no longer hosting the Tedworth Hunt in their car park on Boxing Day. We believe that this is an immense relief for the Council, who have received around 500 emails on the subject, not to mention a 2000-word submission from AAF concerning safety issues. AAF also leafleted the town with Pewsey-specific leaflets and held outreach. Campaigning works.

The Puckeridge and Essex Union Hunt will no longer be holding their New Year’s Day Meet in Maldon, Essex. They usually meet in the carpark of the Blue Boar, but the new owners have decided they don’t want them there. This follows another lengthy campaign by AAF – four years of polite protest, and many emails to the council. Once again – campaigning works.

In Somerset, two hunts have been forced to apply for road closures for their Boxing Day Meets. The Seavington (Crewkerne) and the Cotley (Chard). Previously, they just showed up and did what they pleased. A third hunt (the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale) have taken their meet out of the centre of Castle Cary, and are meeting in a Rugby Club carpark instead. And for a third time – CAMPAIGNING WORKS.

Other campaings have seen the end of Boxing Day Meets in Grantham (Belvoir Hunt), Oakham, then Uppingham (Cottesmore – twice), Sleaford (Blankney Hunt) – Uttoxeter (Now defunct Meynell Hunt) Haverfordwest (Pembrokeshire Hunt).  AAF teamed up with the people challenging these meets, and formed the Boxing Day Focus Group, which meets once a month ALL YEAR. We meet ALL YEAR because ending a Boxing Day Meet takes commitment and determination. We are continuing to challenge meets in Chitterne, Camelford, Bungay, Priddy, Abergavenny, Lewes, Elham, Easingwold, Kirkybymoorside, Abergavenny, Carmarthen, Battle and Tiverton.

If you want to kick the hunt out of your town, contact us and we will help info@actionagainstfoxhunting.org.

Hunt atrocities

West Kent Hunt Sabs report that a hound belonging to the West Kent Hunt was struck by a car. Fortunately the hound appeared to be okay. The lady motorist who had hit the dog was extremely upset. Police were called, arrived quickly, and did take a statement.

North Dorset Hunt Sabs report that the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV) killed a fox on 4/12/23. It transpires that the kill may have been videoed by a drone operated by an independent monitor. Dorset Police are involved.

A Beds and Bucks sab has been fined £1000 by the Royal Courts of Justice in London for a breach of an injunction put in place by the Fitzwilliam Hunt. The Fitzwilliam Hunt, financed by the millionaire owner Sir Philip Neylor-Leyland, spent £100, 000 on the civil claim. The judge described the Hunt Secretary’s evidence as “vague, contradictory and showing a suprising degree of ignorance”. The sab did breach the injunction, but he did it to (successfully) save the life of a fox.

If you’d like to help a Beds and Bucks sab, here is a link. https://ko-fi.com/bedsbuckshuntsabs

Hunt Fails

South Wales Hunt Sabs report that another Welsh hunt, the Caerphilly and District Hunt, is to disband. About three months ago the Llandeilo Farmers Hunt announced its closure.

On 5th November, North Shropshire Hunt made a public announcement, saying that it is unacceptable to swear at hunt monitors in front of children and on a road. They continue “The mastership frown on fowl [sic] and abuse [sic] language, and expect the utmost professionalism by our hunt servants while we are HUNTING FOXES.” You said it!!

Stag Hunting

On 27/11/23 the Mendip Hunt Sabs and North Dorset Hunt Sabs reported that they were attacked by members of the Quantock Stag Hounds. Blood was drawn and £500 worth of equipment damaged. Police attended. 

pro-hunting government  corruption

The Scottish Parliament has passed legislation to license grouse moors. Legislation will give the power to shut down grouse moors linked to wildlife crime, limit the burning of some peatland habitats, and a ban on snares. The UK Government, however, has appointed an owner of a Scottish grouse moor to be “UK Animal Welfare Officer”. Robbie Douglas-Miller was made a baron so that he can take up this role in DEFRA. This means he is unelected but can make decisions regarding animal welfare on behalf of us all. We don’t understand how this is possible in a democracy.

Campaigning News – and Calls to Action 

Cury Hunt Steve Curnow has been thrown out of the hunt for shoving a female sab off a Site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI open access land. Natural England manages SSSIs and a complaint was made to them. This is ANOTHER WAY to shut down hunts – complain to councils (footpaths), National Trust and Natural England. Preventing a person from using public land is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE. Hunts do it all the time – report them.

Boxing Day

To take action against a Boxing Day Meet in your town, what you need MOST is evidence. Go along with a video camera and collect it. It takes less than an hour on the day, and could be very, very useful in 2024. All the advice you need can be found here:

https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/boxing-day-and-new-years-meets-watch-listen-record/

AAF will help you get started and provide all the advice you need along the way.