Holcombe Hunt says plans to ban activity would be 'catastrophic'

In Labour's manifesto for the election, the party stated it wants to stop "trail hunting", which was created to comply with the 2004 Hunting Act.

Trail hunting is a legal activity which involves people on foot or horseback following a scent along a predetermined route with hounds or beagles. It replicates a traditional hunt but without an animal being chased, injured or killed.

Holcombe Hunt members (Image: Supplied)

Holcombe Hunt hounds (Image: Supplied)

In Labour's manifesto prepared ahead of the general election, it states: “Labour will improve animal welfare. We will ban trail hunting.”

The Holcombe Hunt/Harriers is one of the oldest hunts in the UK with its lineage dating back to as early as 1086 and the organisation fears the impact of a ban would be detrimental.

Master huntsman Mark Dickson-Bradley leading a hunt (Image: Supplied)

Mark Dickson-Bradley with members of the hunt and the hounds (Image: Supplied)

Mark Dickson-Bradley, Holcombe Harriers' master huntsman, said: “A ban would be catastrophic to a huge industry, jobs and homes would be lost.

"Hounds and horses wouldn’t have a job anymore. Plus it would affect the wider community including vets, farriers, feed merchants and pubs, who are all part of the hunting community.

"I also fear about people’s mental health. Trail hunting is a form of escape for many people.

“Trail hunting is a lawful activity which involves laying a scent across the countryside for hounds to follow.

"It doesn’t involve pursuing live animals and is about those following the hounds watching them work out where the scent was laid while enjoying the countryside.

"It’s like a game of hide and seek - the trail layer lays the scent off a horse, quad or bicycle.

"Hounds then follow with the mounted field following them, over the countryside.

"There is a lack of understanding about trail hunting, possibly because it looks so much like hunting before the Hunting Act.

"We have retained our heritage by continuing to wear our traditional hunt dress and use the hunting horn to communicate with the hounds and the hunt officials.

“Being part of a hunt is not just about going trail hunting. It’s a way of life, it’s a family.

"You meet lots of people from all walks of life, enjoying riding their horses and following hounds.“

A scent being laid for trail hunting (Image: Supplied)

A scent being laid for trail hunting (Image: Supplied)

The group also showcases its work at shows in the area, including in Bury.

And in March, two hounds from the organisation became the first working harriers from a registered pack to compete at a Crufts show where they claimed prizes, including the best in breed championship title in the harrier section. 

Two Holcombe hounds appeared at a Crufts show in March (Image: Supplied)

Two Holcombe hounds appeared at a Crufts show in March (Image: Supplied)

But despite branching out into other areas, the threat of a trail hunting ban is a huge concern.

Mark said: “If there is a ban on trail hunting we will have to adapt our activities to ensure that there is a future for our hounds, my job and my home, and my way of life. And hundreds of years of tradition.

"The Holcombe Harriers are an endangered breed of canine and we must protect, preserve and promote them to save them." 

Holcombe Hunt members (Image: Supplied)

Huntmaster Chris Dickson-Bradley (Image: Supplied)

The Countryside Alliance, a campaigning organisation for sports in rural communities including hunting, share the Holcombe Hunt's fears.

Polly Portwin, hunting director at the Countryside Alliance, said: “Labour’s ongoing obsession with hunting is staggering and demonstrates that despite pledging to ‘respect the countryside’, they are committed to launching a toxic and nasty culture war against rural people at a time when there are serious issues facing our communities.

“Keir Starmer will have to decide if he wants the totemic issue of hunting to overshadow everything else he is trying to do, in the same way that it soured Labour’s relationship with the countryside the last time it was in power.

“The Countryside Alliance is determined to find a way to protect hounds, hunts and the way of life enjoyed by so many.”

On the other hand, some organisations are welcoming the potential of a ban and are calling for the Labour Party to start taking action.

Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the national animal welfare charity, the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We welcome the Labour Party's promise to strengthen fox hunting laws and ban discredited trail hunting which has been exposed as a 'smokescreen' for old fashioned illegal fox hunting.

“It’s good news for foxes which are still being persecuted and chased and killed across the county by hunts as if fox hunting had never been banned – hunts are deceiving the police, courts and Lancashire public.

“It’s time for change and we are calling on the new government to act without delay in amending the law, close down all the loopholes in the Hunting Act, and introduce custodial sentences for those caught chasing and killing foxes.”

At present, the government has not announced more details about its trail hunting plans but it has backed its proposals again since the election.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson: “This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. That is exactly what we will do.”