A new pro-hunting organization focuses on communicating at the grass roots level.
In the belief that a grass roots organization could do much good for foxhunting in the UK, a group of us hunting enthusiasts have formed a new organization—This Is Hunting UK. We are not in competition with the Countryside Alliance or any of the hunting associations. Quite the opposite, we seek to find ways of working together for the common good of all forms of hunting.
The essence of our mission is to communicate fully and openly, directly with the public, by providing the information they require to understand more about the conservation, cultural, social, and financial benefits that hunting provides. However, there was one key question: how to give our effort a kick start? Believe it or not, it turned out to be the anti-hunting activists who gave us just the incentive we needed.
The League Against Cruel Sports Society (LACS) announced they had a petition of approximately 120,000 asking the Bucks County Agricultural Show in Buckinghamshire to ban the scheduled Hound Parade. After some deliberation the show committee decided to allow the hounds to carry on as usual but agreed to allow the LACS to have a stand at the show. The agreement was greeted with a certain amount of skepticism by some, but it proved to be exactly the right decision. Come the day, nobody really bothered with the LACS stand at all. Instead, spectators preferred by far to go and see the hounds. They thronged to the Countryside Arena and the Main Ring to greet them!
This is exactly what was needed to drive us forward. Many ideas have been thrashed out since then, and it was decided that this summer we would make a start by attending as many Country Fairs, Hound Shows, and Open Days as we could. First, we needed to ensure that our own people were given the opportunity of finding out more about us and what we were preparing to do. Once we felt confident, we started to venture further afield.
We have had a presence at twenty events this summer, with leaflets for the genuine hunting person and postcard size, colourful fliers for the general public. At the end of the summer campaign there are virtually none left. The response has left us staggered.
We believe that all people, whether they hunt or not, have a right to know what hunting is all about. Only when people are fully informed, can they understand that the present Hunting Act is not the answer to the fox’s welfare. By collecting new ideas and sharing this across the UK, we hope this will inspire other hunts to broaden their communications at the grass roots level.
To continue going forward, we really could do with any help or support foxhunters can give us, wherever they are in the world. Whether it be advice from the great hunting enthusiasts in the States who feel they have exactly what it takes to engage and inspire us, or someone who feels that maybe we are deserving of a few pennies to cover some of our costs, either would be most welcome.
We may be in our early stages, but there should be no doubting our commitment to the cause. We just need to continue to execute our mission in the highest professional manner. Should you wish to know more, please feel free to contact me, James Barclay, at Abbey Farm, Stixwould, Woodhall Spa, Lincs LN105HR England. My telephone numbers are 01526 354177 or 07802 327463. You may also contact me via email ([email protected]). Alternatively, please call our National Coordinator, Michelle Hudson at 01427 613549. Or email her ([email protected]).
We very much look forward to hearing from you. We wish all of you in the USA good hunting in 2016 /2117, and we hope you have a cracking season.
Posted September 14, 2016
James Barclay served as Master of five different hunts in England over a period of thirty years. Born to the job, members of his family have been Masters of the Puckeridge continuously since 1896.