Hunt links ‘an oversight’ claims wildlife trust chief

The chairman of the Kent Wildlife Trust has blamed an “unfortunate oversight” after claims he remains involved with a hunting group.

Mike Bax, the former High Sheriff of Kent, faced calls for his resignation after it emerged he was still listed as a joint master of the Blean Beagles.

Until the hunting ban came into force in 2005, the group used dogs to hunt brown hare, but now follows artificial scents.

The trust says Mr Bax cut ties with the Beagles in 2005, claiming his involvement before was “largely social”. Mr Bax referred inquiries to the trust.

It said: “Mike Bax’s active involvement with the Blean Beagles is relatively historic, relating back to the 1970s, and then the 1990s following the death of the founding master.

“This was a largely social interest continued until about 2005. Since then he has had no role in any of the Beagles’ affairs, although he and others were referred to as honorary masters for some years.

“The Beagles’ are run by a committee with which he has had no involvement, nor is he a current subscriber.

“The chairman has not been involved in illegal hunting activities nor does he condone illegal hunting activities.

“The references to his position in hunting directories are wrong.

“The editors were not notified about changes to the officers and this is an unfortunate oversight.

“He has taken steps to establish why he is still listed as a joint master.”

The brown hare is listed as a priority species with the wildlife trust, which lists shooting and coursing as factors in its “dramatic decline in numbers”.

Mike Bax, chairman of the Kent Wildlife Trust with his dog Nougey and, right, Beagles on the hunt