Hunt could avoid square

The organisers of a Boxing Day hunt are again considering whether to abandon a 100-yearold tradition of gathering in a village square.

East Kent with West Street Hunt masters first dropped the tradition of meeting in the centre of Elham 12 months ago amid concerns activists could “go too far” at the annual event. Campaigners from the East Kent Hunt Saboteurs have confirmed they will be holding demonstrations on the day. Spokesman for the meet, Nick Onslow, says a decision on next week’s gathering will be made over the weekend.

“The hunt masters haven’t fully decided,” he said. “We are still discussing and will know at the end of the weekend what they plan to do.”

The centre of Elham has regularly been the scene of heated exchanges with placard-waving demonstrators on Boxing Day. But last year, supporters were instead invited up to the kennels at the top of Cullens Hill at 10.30am, where security was placed to ensure protesters could not access the premises. Horses and hounds later paraded down the High Street before setting off on a trail across the countryside.

Spokesman for East Kent Hunt Saboteurs Grant Tillman says the group will protest the event in Elham no matter where the organisers of the meet decide to congregate.

“They may suddenly decide to go into square – it’s only five minutes away so we can move people very quickly if that’s the case,” he said.

“We’ll have a peaceful protest either at the square or up at the kennels.

“We’ve got two drones. “They’re very effective at finding the hunts because often they’ll see them and disappear. They really hate the drones going up.”

The event was marred by trouble last year as a demonstrator in Elham was allegedly punched and kicked.

The saboteurs will also be demonstrating at the Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt in Tenterden.

Spectators and riders attend the 2018 Boxing Day hunt in Elham village square

Hunt demonstrators always protest at the annual meet