Fell Pack Fall-out In Cumbria

Cumbria and Lancashire Hunt Sab update us on their campaign against foxhunting in the rugged Cumbrian fells, where hunters pursue foxes on foot.

“So far, we’ve had a good hit rate this season against the fell packs. We’ve managed to sab the Blencathra, North Lonsdale, Coniston, Eskdale & Ennerdale and the Melbreak Foxhounds, including a joint meet of the Melbreak and Pennine hunts.

The only fell pack we haven’t visited yet is the Ullswater Foxhounds, who are down to two days a week of very furtive hunting – plenty of time left yet though. We also managed to attend a meet of the extremely secretive Black Combe Beagles who we witnessed hunting hares on National Trust land.

It’s been interesting to see that all the fell packs are having to rely on frequent trespass to be able to continue hunting regularly, with trespass occurring on most hunt days.

So far this season, we have caught them on land belonging to, or managed by the National Trust, Forestry England, Lake District National Park Authority, United Utilities, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, and Butterfly Conservation – with our information and footage these organisations are able to take forward complaints about the trespass on their land.

This includes frequent illegal hunting on SSSIs, managed by Natural England, as well as local and national nature reserves. All these organisations have expressly stated that they do not want the fell packs on their land. Most of them have taken time to raise concerns with the police and take action via legal letters.

Additionally, there is a growing network of private landowners who have got together to say NO to the hunts, and it indicates just how difficult it is for these packs to carry on hunting indefinitely. Their constant trespass makes it even more difficult for them to keep up the deceitful pretence that they are following a pre-laid trail.

The main reason we have been able to attend meets of so many different fell packs is because of the regular and accurate information we have been receiving from members of the public. This saves us a lot of time and fuel as we don’t have to travel around large areas to find a hunt.

Feedback is also interesting – we hear that hunt support is dwindling as the hunts are changing days and times so regularly that only a few close followers are getting the information. We also hear that hunt staff are lamenting that they no longer have the power and influence they used to have, and this has been reflected by the increasing band of private landowners who will no longer tolerate hunting on their land and refuse to be bullied anymore.”

Whatever way you look at it, the fell packs of Lakeland are in deep trouble.

Please support Cumbria and Lancashire Hunt Sabs who save lives in some of the most challenging terrain in the country.

You can donate here: ko-fi.com/cumbriahuntsabs and ko-fi.com/lancshuntsabs

Find out how you can get involved with our campaign to strengthen the Hunting Ban here.