Action against Foxhunting Cornwall note that in January 2019 Cornwall Council declared a Climate Emergency and pledged, amongst other commendable policies, to protect our wildlife for future generations. We would therefore request that the Council stand by this pledge and now ban all meets of Trail Hunts on public space and Council owned land. It is widely documented by many wildlife protection volunteers that these hunts do not and have no intention of abiding by the law and do still train the hounds to follow animal based scents. They state it is an accident when wildlife is harmed but even in that circumstance without the documented law breaking we simply cannot afford to lose any, as per all species foxes are estimated as having a 40+% decline in numbers (BBS survey mammal statistics). The Western Hunt for example clearly state on their website they find it thrilling to chase a fox and are working hard to repeal the ban to allow them to do this legally, their ex master Paul Oliver was found guilty of feeding live foxcubs to the hounds in Herefordshire. These facts led to a ban being implemented by St Ives council on this particular hunt parading at the annual feast. If Cornwall Council are serious about their promises then they surely can do no other than immediately ban these people from promoting this activity or it will only be seen, by the estimated 85% majority of the public that rightly oppose this, as the actual condoning of and colluding in further wildlife destruction and crime. 

Please see the link to the Cornwall Council declaration -

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/climate-emergency/

Please see the questions and answers session by AAF founder Pip Donovan -

https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/questions-the-public-asks-and-the-answers/

Please see the Wildlife Guardian website for evidence recording -

https://www.wildlifeguardian.co.uk/hunting/hunt-convictions/

Please see new Cornwall Council leading protection of nature and wildlife programme 

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news-room/media-releases/news-from-2020/news-from-august-2020/cornwall-to-play-national-role-in-recovery-of-england-s-nature-and-wildlife/

Photo credit - Cornish Foxcub by Martin Yelland Wildlife Photography.