When the Hunting Act 2004 was passed, we adapted our activities to align with the law. We actually do a variety of things, sometimes just exercising our hounds and horses together, or hunting a trail where a scent is laid by a trail layer across the country for hounds to follow, or using hounds to “flush” or move a fox into the open where it can be taken by a bird of prey such as our Golden Eagle. All of these activities are legal and permitted under the Hunting Act. These activities provide a continuing opportunity for our supporters to follow our wonderful hounds and enjoy the countryside. We are committed to campaigning to preserve for future generations this opportunity the follow hounds and preserve a vital component of rural communities and economies.
The infrastructure of the Hunt requires a significant income each year to maintain it, and our supporters make a valued contribution to this. The hounds and the horses all require feed and veterinary expenses and equipment to be purchased. They also require housing, which must be maintained, and staff to look after them, who also have to be paid and housed.
These bills are paid for by the followers and supporters, both in the form of subscriptions to the Hunt and by supporting fundraising events run by the Fitzwilliam Hunt Supporters’ Club.
Very importantly, there are also a significant number of local trades-people who rely upon the Hunt and its followers for some or all of their winter income. By maintaining our activities, we ensure that these trades-people can maintain their incomes.
We don’t only go hunting, we also have our point to point, our show and garden open day and other events, and even our own for sale and wanted page. For more details, click on the links to the Facebook pages below, or contact the Hunt Secretaries via the contact details on the Contacts page
