National Trust bans trail hunting

The National Trust has said that it will no longer issue licences for trail hunting on its land. The trust’s decision follows the trial of Mark Hankinson, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, who was found guilty of encouraging illegal foxhunting in an autumn court case. The trust referred to the case when commenting on its decision, which it described as “complex and contentious”. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said that the trust had breached its fundamental charitable principle that it is ‘for everyone, forever’ and had prohibited a legal activity.