A bit of background

The Seavington Hunt has a history of wildlife crimes, yet on Boxing Day, the Hunt parades through and holds its meet in Crewkerne, Somerset. It uses the town to promote its ‘tradition’ and to maintain its smokescreen of being a legitimate, popular and valued attraction for the local community.

The Hunt meet and parade takes place immediately before the historical Pram Race – an event organized by Crewkerne Lions Club to raise money for local charitable causes. After the Seavington Hunt was witnessed collecting money for the Hunt during the Pram Race in 2022, on Boxing Day 2023, Crewkerne Lions Club posted:

“Crewkerne Lions would like to publicly state we have no connection or sympathy for the Hunt. We see the Pram Race as a completely separate event. We challenge the people collecting for the Hunt which they are doing illegally as they have no street collecting licence. They are collecting to support their hobby. The Lions collect to help those in need. Please do not tar us with the same brush.” facebook.com/groups/1018713968620137/posts/1662293054262222 

On Christmas Eve 2024, the Lions Club posted: “the Pram Race is a completely separate event from the hunt” which they have “no connection with” and that the Lions street collections are “to help those in need”. tinyurl.com/yju82d5h

Who gives them permission to do this?

After a successful AAF campaign carried out in 2022, Somerset Council contacted all hunts that have public Boxing Day meets in the county, informing them that they must apply for road closures as their events are not safe for the public. The Seavington Hunt was therefore forced to apply to Somerset Council for a road closure for their 2024 event. Somerset Council cannot refuse a road closure if all the correct insurance and risk assessments are in place.

What about the Town Council?

Crewkerne Town Council claims that they have no influence over the event. However, the hunts need to look legitimate, which means they need to appear to have approval from the relevant town councils – it’s a key part of their smokescreen. This point is emphasised in an article published by Somerset Live after AAF campaigners presented the case for opposing the Seavington Hunt’s parade at a Crewkerne Town Council meeting (somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/crewkerne-council-urged-ban-controversial-9747445):

“A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance told Somerset Live: “Boxing Day Hunt meets are enjoyed by thousands of people from all walks of life, in many cases bringing much needed footfall to town and village centres, boosting support for local hospitality and retail. Often criticism of these popular events is whipped up by small groups of activists from outside the local area. It is right that local authorities support these popular events, which bring people together”.

Several councils in other areas have expressed disapproval of the Boxing Day meets in their towns – including Keswick, Wymondham, Blandford and Castle Cary – and the relevant hunts have taken their meets to private land. So, if Crewkerne Town Council turns its back on the Seavington Hunt (as morally it should), we could stop it from parading through and holding its meet in Crewkerne.

What can I do?

Below is a list of Crewkerne Councillors. Email one of them – or all of them individually – and ask them to let the hunt know they are NOT WELCOME in Crewkerne on Boxing Day. We have created a template letter for you, but feel free to write your own as this will have more impact. If you wish to contact us about this campaign – for example, to offer more support, please fill in the Contact Form below.