Whatever the ethics or politics of the matter there is a long
tradition of foxhunting in the Lakes. But unlike the southern
gentry style of hunting the Lakeland packs are not an upper crust
social event. The packs hunt on foot and many of the participants
are local fell farmers who resent
what they see as the depradation of their spring lambs by foxes.
One Wasdale farmer lost 50 lambs and although some losses would
have been sickly examples, the farmers are quick to get the fell
packs out to trace the scent of any offending foxes.
The most famous huntsman of course being John Peel from Caldbeck.
The song D'ye Ken John Peel is almost the Cumbrian national anthem.(Follow
this link to a web page featuring the song..complete with MP3
version) Peel was born in 1776 at Caldbeck and typical of
the day he was one of 13 children. He eloped to marry his true
love at Gretna Green. He became somewhat obsessed with hunting,
forming his own pack He became so famous for the number of kills
and the success of his pack that 3,000 turned out for his funeral.
The song became the adopted anthem of the Border Regiment.
The Cumbrian packs are:
Blencathra (Threlkeld) Tel. 01768779219 / Coniston Tel. 015394
33635 / Eskdale and Ennerdale Tel. 01946 723295 / Melbreak Tel.
01900 85233 / Ullswater Tel. 01768 482230.
Also hunting the southern fells are the Lunesdale foxhounds, kennelled
in Sedbergh, Cumbria and are Full members of the CCFP .
A UK ban on hunting of foxes and other wildlife with dogs
went onto statute book in January 2005. Ironically government
whips were not used on the free vote (House of Commons whips originates
from huntings whippers-in)' The legislation moved closer in March
2002 when the Commonds voted In the end MPs voted by 386 to 175
for a ban - a majority of 211.
The bill to abolish fox hunting in Scotland was signed by the
Queen in March 2002.
Earlier in December 2000 as the House of Commons overwhelmingly
approved the first reading of a bill offering three options, ranging
from voluntary regulation to an outright ban. MPs voted by 373
to 158 to send the hunting Bill for a second reading, after an
impassioned debate lasting until nearly midnight. The hunting
issue rouses huge emotion in Britain, pitching a traditionalist
countryside lobby against principally urban animal rights campaigners.
The bill, on which MPs will not be required to vote along party
lines, offers a choice between voluntary regulation, statutory
regulation, and an almost total ban.
The Commons then fully approved the bill for a complete ban, but
the House of Lords then halted the bill, pending the new Parliament....
Showing his disapproval of the whole trend towards a ban in January
Prince Charles on a visit to Cumbria, went out hunting with the
Blencathra pack. They caught a fox and the Prince was no doubt
happy to signal his indifference to what the Commons had voted.
In October 2003 the House of Lords kicked the Hunting Bill into
the long grass, but the Commons may push the legislation through
under the Parliament Act in 2004.
LINDA Porter, from the Eskdale pack organised an appeal that raised
more than £33,000 to help Cumbrian foxhound packs survives
the ravages of foot and mouth.
Linda, joint master of the Eskdale and Ennerdale Foxhounds, started
the appeal exactly a year ago. Linda is secretary of the fell
packs central committee.
An SOS went out countrywide and donations flooded in from all
over the UK. There were also some from Kenya, the United States,
Germany, Ireland and Canada. More than 320 individuals and groups
made donations. One person gave £6,000 in instalments and
a similar amount was raised by the Warwickshire Hunt.
The nine packs of fell foxhounds hunting in and around the fringes
of Cumbria will benefit from the £33,000 proceeds.
The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), the governing body for foxhunting in the UK, has itself launched its new website on www.mfha.co.uk
 Bloodcurdling! If you want to see the anti-hunting lobby in action try either the Anti-Blood Sports web site or this web site (complete with dripping blood!) |
Copyright © Lakestay All rights reserved.