Police are investigating reports that a hunt trespassed onto National Trust grounds just days after the charity banned trail hunting on its land.
At the end of November the National Trust confirmed that it would no longer issue trail hunting licenses.
However, a campaign group, Hunt Saboteurs Association has shared footage, which appears to show a hunt taking place at Inwood, the Longmynd, Church Stretton, Shropshire, less than a week after the ban. The footage suggests that a hunt was taking place with a fox fleeing from hounds, who then follow its scent.
Trail hunting, where hunts follow an artificial scent, was permitted on National Trust grounds until members voted to ban the activity at the charity’s latest AGM. Trustees agreed with the ban and motioned it from 25 November.
The National Trust told Civil Society News: “We are aware of this alleged incident, which has been reported to the police. As it is now the subject of a possible criminal investigation, we cannot comment further but encourage anyone who witnesses anything illegal on National Trust land to report to police.”
West Mercia Police confirmed that it received a report of the trespassing on 29 November, just four days after trail hunting was banned on National Trust sites.
In a statement West Mercia Police said: “This report has been passed to our wildlife officers and safer neighbourhood team for further investigation. If anyone has information relating to this incident they are asked to report online via the West Mercia Police website quoting incident 226 of November 29.”
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