Natural Resources Wales bans trail hunting on its land
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has banned trail hunting on its land.
The Welsh Government-sponsored body, which is one of Wales’ biggest land owners, after a court ruled that a leading huntsman had encouraged the practice as a smokescreen for illegal foxhunting.
NRW said it decided to ban train hunting completely because it could not be sure that it was not still being used as a “cover” for illegal activity.
Dominic Driver, the head of land stewardship for NRW, said: “The outcome of the court case against a senior leader of the MFHA has resulted in a loss of confidence in the organisation’s ability to ensure its activities are carried out within the law and terms of its agreement.
“In order to assure ourselves properly that trail hunting on our estate wasn’t being used as a cover for illegal activity, we would have to invest in skills and resources that we currently don’t have, to police it properly.
“Given what has historically been a minor use of the land we manage, this does not represent good use of our limited resources. All trail hunting activity on the NRW-managed estate will end with immediate effect.”
‘Animal rights campaigners’
The decision by NRW was welcomed by opponents of fox hunting and animal rights campaigners.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said: “The fallout from the leaked webinars continues and these landowners now realise they’ve been duped by the hunting community.
“It’s only a matter of time before more large landowners follow suit leading to the loss of millions of acres of land and the total demise of some hunts.”
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Ban all hunting in wales 🏴 idiots
Years ago, foxhunters undermined their own pest control arguments by feeding foxes and building earths for them. At the time, Simon Hart (yes, him) was running the Countryside Alliance’s campaign for hunting, and he said “I don’t see that there’s any contradiction between countryside management, which includes the use of artificial earths, and the need to control fox numbers”. So now nobody trusts them to stick to artificially laid scents.
Horrified they ever allowed hunting but very glad they have banned it. Now for the rest of Wales
Best news possible.
It’s all a sham anyway. Trail hunting in theory would be O.K but it goes places where there are foxes and other wildlife which end up killed or scared to death ! The other concern is that these arrogant louts damage land, hedges, fences ditches etc so they are doing a lot of harm, a kind of legalised vandalism.
Hunting is the last bastion of the coward & scoundrel. 🚫🦊
I’m sure they are already thinking up new ways for their hounds to “accidentally” rip living creatures to pieces in the name of sport.
The Countryside Alliance should sue Simon Hart for breach of promise
Good, now if you want to stop even more animal abuse, ban fishing on your lands.
Lot of guys go fishing for the peace, not caring if they catch anything, whereas the hunters are “the unspeakable in pursuit of the unedible” – Oscar W. ?
Not to mention they actually eat the fish or, alternatively, put it back in the river without killing it.