The Countryside Alliance and the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) have formally agreed to launch a joint, integrated campaign to defend all forms of legal hunting, in response to growing political and legislative threats - including the Government’s commitment to ban trail hunting.
The decision follows a high-level meeting on Tuesday, 22 July, during which both organisations confirmed their commitment to a coordinated campaign structure with shared messaging, focused advocacy, and a clear strategy to protect regulated hunting activities and the rural communities that support them.
There was full recognition of the organisations’ complementary roles: the BHSA as the regulatory body for hunting with hounds, and the Alliance as a campaigning and lobbying force on behalf of the countryside. Both boards have now given formal approval to proceed.
The campaign will be led by Sir Ben Wallace as Chairman and Sam Butler as Vice Chairman, with a working group convened to develop operational plans, campaign messaging, and a dedicated fundraising strategy. A Memorandum of Understanding will formalise how the two organisations will work together.
Lord Herbert of South Downs, Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said:
“This is a time for leadership and unity. The threats to the countryside and our rural way of life are serious, and to meet them we must be united. I’m delighted that the BHSA and the Alliance are coming together to defend legal hunting and the rural way of life it supports.
Viscount Astor, Chairman of the BHSA, said:
“The BHSA has brought consistency, high standards, and proper regulation to legal hunting. By joining forces with the Countryside Alliance, we are now taking that work to the next level — speaking with a united voice to defend lawful hunting and support the communities who care for hounds, countryside, and conservation.”
Sir Ben Wallace, Campaign Chairman, said:
“This campaign is about defending lawful activity - including trail hunting, which the Government has specifically committed to ban - and protecting the people, standards, and rural infrastructure that underpin it. Last year, there were over 12,000 days of lawful hunting carried out across England and Wales, yet in the 20 years since the original and draconian ban, there have been fewer than 30 successful prosecutions involving BHSA recognised hunts. That tells you everything. We’re standing up for those people and communities who, week in and week out, participate in lawful activity under a clear regulatory framework. We will run a professional, coordinated campaign that engages politicians, informs the public, and makes the case for the lawful activity in all its forms.”
Further announcements will follow as the campaign structure develops and activity begins. The focus will remain on defending legal hunting and promoting the regulatory framework that sustains it.