04/01/2022
New Years’ Day | Cheshire Forest Hunt | Crowton
Cheshire Forest Hunt, similar to Cheshire Hounds, are two of the three hunts in Cheshire who are at least attempting to lay trails.
We know that moving from actual hunting to trailing is something that is going to take time - not least, for the hounds to be trained onto the scent they’re following and for the hunts to ensure they’re laying trails in places that aren’t likely to encounter any foxes.
Hunts that are clean boot might have the odd monitor present, but if they’re legitimately trailing, we’ve all got better things to do and can focus on other hunts, who are participating in illegal fox hunting, so really, it’s in their best interests.
However, the Cheshire Forest Hunt don’t help themselves - perhaps a better working relationship with anti-hunt groups might make things a little smoother whilst they’re transitioning rather than blocking roads and allowing hunt support to try and intimidate anti-groups that are present. Food for thought.
On New Year’s Day, some of our group met up with Cheshire Against Blood Sports, Cheshire Hunt Saboteurs, Derby Hunt Saboteurs, Shropshire Hunt Saboteurs, along with North Wales Hunt Saboteurs and indies.
The Forest Hunt held their meet at The Hare and Hounds pub in Crowton, as they have done previously, setting off at 12 pm.
With a large field, we suspect that there were riders from other hunts in the area, whose hunts weren't out on New Years' Day. There were quite a few rowdy support individuals who clearly haven’t refreshed their memory regarding codes of conduct and manners. However, the number of support, whilst still represented by a good few, has definitely dwindled compared to previous years - so perhaps people are getting fed up with this hunt’s antics?
After setting off from the meet, an unfortunate hare ran into the path of the hounds - luckily, the hare did manage to get away without fuss and escaped by a hair's breadth (hare's breadth?).
The hunt continued on towards the Dutton Viaduct and over the canal towpath, into woodland, where foot sabs struggled to keep them in sight for nearly 20 minutes. Once they’d been located, foot sabs continued to keep up with them for the rest of the day, made far easier by the limited amount of land the hunt have available to them.
Towards the end of the day, after the Forest had a photoshoot, they were denied access by a landowner. Top tip: check with the landowners before rampaging across their land and lay agreed trails where you’re not trespassing.
The hunt then made their way back to the meet point, this time via road access, causing a pretty hefty tailback, traffic including those out from Cheshire Rural Crime Team, packing up by 3.30 pm.
All in all, a good day, with the hunt mostly on the road in between pockets of land, with no kills.
We would like to issue an open invitation to Cheshire hunts who are struggling to transition to trail hunting, to have discussions regarding transparency, where trails are laid and issuing meet cards, so hunts can reduce the numbers of sabs and monitors each week and to ensure there are no "accidents", which in our book, is win-win.
Thank you to all of our supporters.
