Wales to review hunt ban

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is to review its ban on trail hunting on its land as part of a ‘recreational strategy’.

Trail hunting was provisionally banned by the agency in November

2021 after the conviction of former Masters of Foxhounds Association director Mark

Hankinson for encouraging illegal foxhunting. However, Mr Hankinson has since had his conviction overturned (News, 27 July).

A September meeting of the agency’s board saw a vote on a paper presented by NRW’S executive team which recommended retaining the ban. Board member Professor Peter Rigby Fmedsci FRS argued that even if Mr Hankinson had not been tried, the ban would still have been introduced. However, other members challenged this analysis and argued against the ban.

The proposal to retain the ban was voted through, although the board also committed to review it as part of a recreational strategy.

Rachel Evans, director of Countryside Alliance Wales, said NRW “must now urgently review its policy on trail hunting and reinstate the licensing system which has successfully enabled legal trail hunting on its land for more than 15 years. This issue isn’t going away and the Countryside Alliance will be pursuing it relentlessly... This is about fairness and standing up to prejudice.”

Blackberry picking is one of the most accessible forms of foraging and October is the last opportunity. It used to be said that the devil will appear if you pick blackberries after September, but we can’t say we’ve ever heard of it happening. Try blackberries slowcooked with old grouse.

There is nothing like the rut to turn savvy stags silly. A good imitation of a stag’s roar can be made using a specialist call, but it can also be produced with an old cola bottle or by voice alone, and it can be highly effective at luring the big boys out of deep woodlands.

NRW has committed to review its ban on trail hunting on its land