Fears posting hunt details will put target on local pubs

THE row over the National Trust’s decision to publish details of hunts intensified yesterday amid fears that countryside businesses could become the target of animal rights activists.

The move to post details of meet locations and times on trust property has raised the prospect that pubs, hotels, veterinary clinics and farriers that trade with hunts could become victims of online “trolling”, where activists use the internet to try to destroy a company’s reputation.

Online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and customer ratings websites have been used by animal rights campaigners to denounce companies connected to hunts.

The trust’s website could now be monitored by hunt saboteur groups so they can attend legal trail hunting, where hounds and huntsmen chase a scent, in the hope of spotting them illegally killing a fox.

They also will be better able to see what local businesses offer support to the hunts, raising the prospect that militant activists could target them.

Nigel Smith, landlord of the Fleece Inn on trust land in Bretforton near Evesham, said he was targeted online after his 15th-century pub hosted a hunt breakfast. “I believe in upholding the traditions of the countryside,” he said. “But about three years ago I had a breakfast for the North Cotswold Hunt and had people trolling me online.

“While I support the trust being honest and open about the trail hunts, I think they should make clear that these hunts are legal and not fox hunts.

“People need to be fully informed. I would now think twice about holding another hunt breakfast after people said they would not come to the pub. ”

In recent years, there have been hoax bomb threats at a Blackburn hotel that hosted a hunt ball, bad reviews and ratings for pubs used by hunts, and even calls to boycott veterinary clinics that have treated injured hounds.

Lee Moon, spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said: “We will monitor the National Trust website. If they are trail hunting then there’s no issue. We believe, however, that they are illegally hunting and killing foxes on National Trust land.”

A spokesman for the National Trust said it was making public details of the licence, which includes a broad location and the planned dates, and that specific details, such as start and finishing points which may often include hotels and pubs, were not included.