Controversial Boxing Day hunt 'a stain on pleasant little town’

Lewis Clarke
·3-min read

Crewkerne Town Council faced impassioned calls to take a stand against the controversial Boxing Day parade of the Seavington Hunt during its November meeting, with activists painting a grim picture of the hunt's track record of alleged illegality and public safety concerns.

"We're here today to talk about the Seavington Hunt meeting and parading through Crewkerne on Boxing Day," said Sheila Powell, speaking on behalf of Action Against Fox Hunting (AAFH). "The Seavington Hunt has a proven track record of breaking the law by pursuing and killing foxes. Despite their claims of trail hunting, they've been prosecuted multiple times for illegal activities."

Ms Powell cited specific incidents, including a 2013 conviction when a huntsman was fined after hounds chased a fox near Winsham, and a 2022 case involving the deliberate release of a bagged fox, an act Powell described as "abhorrent." The hunt, she added, is under investigation for a recent incident where hounds allegedly killed a fox in Beaminster.

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"Given the known illegal, dangerous, and abhorrent activities of the Seavington Hunt, there is a strong argument for Crewkerne Town Council to inform the hunt they are not welcome," She said, urging the council to follow the example of other towns, such as Keswick and Castle Cary, which have discouraged similar events.

Public safety also emerged as a major concern. Sarah Little described harrowing incidents involving the Seavington Hunt, including hounds straying onto the A303, leading to multiple fatalities among the dogs and a car being written off. "This demonstrates the hunt's total disregard for public safety and animal welfare," she argued.

Ms Little highlighted other risks, including zoonotic diseases potentially spread by hunt hounds, which are fed raw meat. "Hounds can transmit parasites like tapeworms and bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Where are the protective barriers and handwashing facilities on Boxing Day?" she questioned.

Alison Rogers, speaking on behalf of AAFH founder Pip Donovan, added that hunts often rely on the implicit support of councils to boost their reputation. "Hunts like Seavington use Boxing Day events to present themselves as upstanding community organizations, when in fact, they are no more than animal abusers of the lowest sort," she said.

The council heard how public perception links such events to local authorities, even when no formal endorsement is given. "The very presence of the Seavington Hunt in your town on Boxing Day links Crewkerne Town Council with the hunt, whether you approve or not," she said. She warned of potential backlash should an incident occur: "If there’s an accident or an incident, people will ask, ‘Why did the town council allow it to happen?’"

The activists pointed to Crewkerne’s existing Boxing Day pram race, a popular charity event, as a wholesome alternative for community engagement. "There is no need for the hunt to turn out at all," She concluded, describing the hunt's presence as "a stain on your pleasant little town."

The council did not debate the issues surrounding the comments at the meeting.

Following the meeting, A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance told Somerset Live: “Boxing Day Hunt meets are enjoyed by thousands of people from all walks of life, in many cases bringing much needed footfall to town and village centres, boosting support for local hospitality and retail. Often criticism of these popular events is whipped up by small groups of activists from outside the local area. It is right that local authorities support these popular events, which bring people together”.

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