It may be almost a month since Boxing Day, but the sight of tens of thousands of hunt supporters lining streets, filling villages and proudly cheering hounds through towns across the country remains powerfully vivid. That show of support sent a clear message: trail hunting matters, and it matters to a great many people.

Now is the moment to turn that passion into action.

Those same tens of thousands must stand up once again and ensure their voices are heard loud and clear.

The Government has confirmed that it will move forward with its manifesto commitment to a ban on trail hunting. Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on the Animal Welfare Strategy, Angela Eagle, the Defra Minister, stated that the Government would be launching the consultation into how to implement that ban “very soon”. That means the window to act is now - not later, not once decisions have already been shaped, but at the point where public engagement can still make a real difference. Be under no illusion, all is not lost and we can still find a way forward to protect our hounds, our hunts and our community.

If we want to protect the future of hunting, we must be ready, organised and united. That starts with signing up as many people as possible who are willing and committed to taking action alongside the Countryside Alliance and the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), who are already campaigning hard.

Please share this message with your friends, family, colleagues and through your hunt networks, to spread the message and encourage as many people as possible to sign up here to take action to protect hunting’s future when the time comes, which could be very soon. Even if you already receive emails from the Countryside Alliance and/or the BHSA, we need to know exactly who we can contact when it comes to completing the consultation – for which we will provide guidance – and taking other direct action to protect hunting’s future.

Hunting has always thrived on community, commitment and courage. This is the time to show all three – and to stand up for the sport we love so that we can continue to follow hounds across the country for years to come. 

Photo by Sporting & Country Images