Declaration day venues chosen
Venues have been announced for mass meets on “Declaration Day”, in which hunts from across England and Wales will gather to rally against the Hunting Bill.
The 12 meets, ranging from Caldbeck in Cumbria to Badminton in Gloucestershire, (pictured) will be held on 1 November at 10am, and aim to increase media attention on the Hunting Bill.
The north-east area will be meeting in Trimdon, Tony Blair’s home village. Countryside Alliance regional officer Richard Dodd says: “A supporter has offered 100 acres of land in the village for the gathering and we are expecting more than 1,000 supporters.”
Many will sign the Hunting Declaration at the mass meets. This commits signatories to refuse to co-operate with a hunting ban and then submit themselves to the legal consequences.
The alliance is extending the invitation to attend Declaration Day to all field sports supporters, as well as those who support the right to hunt as a basic freedom.
Simon Hart, chief executive of the alliance, explains: “The gatherings will give individuals the opportunity to make clear their intention to take part in a peaceful but committed civil disobedience, should a hunting ban be imposed.”
The CA, which has organised this event in conjunction with the Council of Hunting Associations, has arranged a hotline for all 12 areas.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
For further information (tel: 01672 519) and then the correct extension number for the relevant area listed below:
- East Midlands (Melton Aerodrome, ext: 510)
- South-east (Lower Hayesden, Tonbridge, ext: 511)
- Southern (Newbury Showground, ext: 512)
- South-west (Honiton showground, ext: 513)
- Wessex (Worcester Lodge, Badminton, ext: 514)
- West Midlands (The Big Ham, Powick, Worcester, ext: 515)
- Cumbria (Caldbeck, ext: 516)
- North-east (Trimdon, ext: 517)
- North (Birdsall, ext: 518)
- North-west (Eaton Aerodrome, ext: 519)
- East (Higham, ext: 520)
- Wales (Builth Wells, ext: 521)
Read the full story in tomorrow’s issue of Horse & Hound (9 October).
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
