2005
1/9/05 Hunt sells hounds ahead of season
The South Notts Hunt is selling eight of its hounds ahead of the new hunting season. The hunt said the size of the pack needed to be reduced so the huntsman could keep control of the dogs, which can no longer chase live foxes. Hunt secretary Anne Jepson said: "Some of the hounds have been what's termed 'drafted out' to other countries - Ireland, France, Italy. Some horses have been sold. So there's been a reduction, but we're still there, we're still going forward."
BBC News
24/8/05 Animal rights and wrongs
The campaign against the Newchurch guinea pig farm may have shocked, but Nelson Mandela would understand it... No one, I think, would put the attempt to liberate the Newchurch guinea pigs on a par with the anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa. A few thousand - or even a few tens of thousands - of furry laboratory animals is not on the same scale as an entire repressed nation. But perhaps the two struggles are not as far apart as you think. It may be in the future that the use of large numbers of animals to test drugs, for which the motivation is often commercial, not humanitarian, will come to seem outrageous and that the treatment of animals in our society will be thought of as one of our great blindspots. If that does happen, then the campaign to close down the guinea pig sheds at Darley Oaks Farm will surely look like a violent, necessary and ugly step on the long march to freedom. (This was the only intelligent, pro-animal, anti-corporate news feature I could find!) Guardian
23/8/05 GUINEA PIG FARM SHUTS
The controversial Darley Oaks guinea pig farm is to close, its owners announced today. Following years of torment at the hands of animal rights activists, the farm's owner, David Hall and Partners, says it will cease breeding operations by the end of the year. The family said in a statement it was hoped the decision will lead to the return of the remains of their relative Gladys Hammond, 82, whose body was snatched from her grave by protesters against the farm, which breeds guinea pigs for scientific research. Burton Mail
17/8/05 GROUSE SHOOTING IS CRUEL AND BARBARIC
I refer to your coverage of the opening day of the grouse shooting season, "The glorious 12th?" In their attempts to stop predators taking grouse chicks, keepers shoot, snare, trap and sometimes poison as many predators as possible in their war on wildlife. The result is a countryside deprived of much of its wildlife populations and an artificially-sustained population of the target species which is vulnerable to disease. To facilitate the blood sports fanatics' killing days, the public can legally be denied the right to roam over moors, even where it is open access land, for up to 28 days a year. Chris Williamson, Derby City Council leader Derby Evening Telegraph
17/8/05 AstraZeneca may shut Swedish operations
AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals group, is considering closing its operations in Sweden if proposed legislation to curb animal testing is implemented. Sweden's social democratic government is under pressure from the Green party, its coalition partner, to toughen laws on animal testing - a move that AstraZeneca claims would bring unworkable restrictions… (Not exactly local but hopefully it will have a knock-on negative effect on the similar establishment in Loughborough where there have been a few demos over the years. The legislation would simply increase their operating costs as they would have to scientifically justify their animal testing and they would have to meet basic requirements of animal welfare - something they don't have to do in the UK.)Guardian
17/8/05 US ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST BANNED
An American doctor and animal rights activist who openly supports illegal extremist action against a controversial guinea pig farm has been banned from coming to Burton to take part in a massive demonstration. Dr Steven Best, a philosophy professor who believes that violence is morally right if the cause is 'just', has been informed by the Home Office that he will not be allowed to enter the country to speak in Burton to campaigners against Darley Oaks Farm, in Newchurch, which breeds guinea pigs for medical research… Burton Mail
16/8/05 PAINTER'S PRIZE
A wildlife artist has been recognised by an international animal charity. Pollyanna Pickering, of Matlock, has been named Animal Conservation Fund-raiser of the Year 2005 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Derby Evening Telegraph
13/8/05 Quiet start to the Grouse season
Disease and poor weather make for an inglorious Twelfth - THE grouse season began quietly yesterday with a small number of shoots able to celebrate the Glorious Twelfth in traditional style. Some in northeast Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Yorkshire, and Derbyshire went ahead despite a gloomy forecast that this year was to be the quietest start to the season since the Fifties. Times
12/8/05 THE GLORIOUS 12TH?
Today marks the first day of the grouse-hunting season and Derbyshire hunters are ready to start shooting. New research shows that, although some wildlife will perish under the gunfire, threatened species are most likely to thrive on hunting grounds. The study, by the Countryside Alliance and the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, said that upland waders and black grouse were more likely to breed successfully on moorland, where heather-management and predator-control took place, than on unmanaged moorland.
But Chris Williamson, leader of Derby City Council and an anti-blood sports campaigner, said the results of the research were "one-dimensional". "This is no justification for the sheer brutality of grouse-shooting and its associated activities," he said.
(Its funny how the CA comes out with these 'studies' when they're worried about losing one of their barbaric pastimes. Similar independent studies have shown that Red Kite and Hen Harrier numbers - both protected birds of prey - are significantly lower on shooting moors than other moorlands.)Derby Evening Telegraph
25/2/05 Crowds still back hunters
High Peak Hunt members showed they were in a determined and positive mood on Saturday.
Scores of hunters, horses and hounds paraded through Bakewell's streets with the support of many onlookers, after the ban came into force on Thursday.
The hunt's field secretary Janine Noon said the outing was mainly to exercise the dogs and no animals were killed. The meet was also welcomed by Paul Timpson from the North West Hunt Saboteurs Association because no animals were killed. He added: "We hope every hunt in the country will go to drag hunting. Why have they got to kill hares? What damage do hares do?"
Buxton Advertiser
21.2.05 WHEN IS A HUNT NOT A HUNT...?
The law banning hunting with hounds came into force last week but Saturday offered the members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt the first opportunity to gather in the wake of the change. Peter Presland, the West Midlands regional chairman of the Countryside Alliance, admitted: "It was a desperately sad and poignant day. You can make no bones about that. But it is also a new era and a new stage in our campaign." Derby Hunt Saboteurs spokesman Roger Swain said: "It was fairly non-eventful really. They were just out for a hack across the countryside. It showed they can do that and attract people without killing anything"... The sadness had swelled the hunt's numbers, as had the joining of forces with the South Staffordshire Moorland Hunt, the DNS Beagles and the Dove Valley Mink Hounds. By the time the hunt was ready for the off, people were still queuing in their cars on the A515, waiting to get on to the site…. Derby Evening Telegraph
21.2.05 VINDICATION OF NEW LAW
The interminable hunting debate is being clouded by hyperbole to the point of absurdity.
The weekend saw the new era begin for huntsmen, their animals and their traditional foes - the foxes and the anti-hunt protesters. As far as Derbyshire was concerned, it all seemed to go remarkably well….Mr Presland's subsequent pronouncement that "the activities taking place here will look, sound and smell like real hunting but will be within the law" will be seen by most of us as a vindication of the new legislation, and not a condemnation. Derby Evening Telegraph
21.2.05 PRO-HUNTERS SHOW DEFIANCE
by LAURIE COOMBS - HUNDREDS of hunting enthusiasts from Burton and South Derbyshire have turned out to show their defiance against a ban on the sport. More than 700 members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt, the Staffordshire Moorlands and the DNS Beagles hunts gathered at the Darley Moor Aerodrome, near Ashbourne, on Saturday to protest at the Government's decision to axe fox hunting. Burton Mail
21.2.05 HUNT FOR A CHANGE IN LAW
Hundreds of hunt supporters vowed to take revenge at the ballot box as they set out for the first time since the hunting ban came into force. Dozens of riders clad in red and black were cheered on their way by more than a thousand residents who braved icy winds on Saturday to gather at Darley Moor Airfield, near Ashbourne on the Staffordshire border... And more than 200 people turned up at Sandon Park, near Stafford, to cheer on 60 North Staffordshire Hunt riders as they set off on their first ride out since the ban... Riders and foot-followers from the Staffordshire Moorlands Hunt met the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt at Ashbourne. The Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire Beagles and the Dove Valley Minkhounds were also at the event...The Sentinel
21.2.05 HUNTING ACT
The Act states: a person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog, unless his hunting is exempt. Stalking a wild mammal, or flushing it out of cover to be shot, are exempt if done to prevent or reduce serious damage to livestock, crops or property... The Sentinel
18.2.05 TEARS ON FINAL DAY FOR HUNT
Midnight marked the end of an era when the ban on hunting with dogs came into effect. HURTEJ KAUR went along when the South Notts Hunt rode out for the last time.
As the South Notts Hunt gathered for their last legal hunt, tear-filled supporters gathered in their hundreds. Huntsman Gary Williams, 41, broke down as he rode along the concrete path in dismal weather yesterday. "This is what I live for," he said, trying to hold back the tears... (Couldn't happen to a nicer person! One of our sabs is still owed a pair of glasses that were smashed in the field and a sab from down South would like to meet up with him regarding an incident when the sab was hit by a 4WD.)Nottingham Evening Post
17.2.05 HUNT IS SET TO RIDE OUT - LEGALLY
Members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire hunt will meet in Derbyshire this weekend, despite hunting with dogs becoming illegal from tomorrow. But the hunt says it will not be breaking the law under The Hunting Act, as it will not allow any of its hounds to hunt foxes or other mammals... Derby Evening Telegraph
17.2.05 HUNTS WILL 'EXERCISE' THEIR DOGS
Fox-hunts in Notts were licking their wounds today after the Court of Appeal threw out a legal bid to save their sport. The Countryside Alliance is mounting a series of challenges to a ban on hunting, forced into law last year using the 1949 Parliament Act despite opposition in the House of Lords... And despite the hunting ban coming into force from midnight today, the South Notts Hunt planned to turn out on Saturday along with others across the country. But they will not technically break the law because members will not chase and kill a fox... Nottingham Evening Post
17.2.05 HUNT MEMBERS ADJUST TO CHANGES
Grove and Rufford Hunt have spelled out the future of local hunting as the ban on the activity is on the horizon. The hunt met at Sturton-le-Steeple village hall last week to approve changes to its constitution. 180 members were present and a statement of intent and guidance has been issued...Nottingham Evening Post
17.2.05 OPPONENTS ALERT FOR BREACH OF HUNT BAN
BY TIM SMITH - Anti-hunt campaigners say they will inform the police if anyone breaks the ban on Saturday. Thousands of people are expected to show their defiance to the Hunting Act by holding a series of demonstrations across Leicestershire the day after the ban comes into force... The protests on Saturday include a rally organised by Atherstone Hunt, which is expecting about 5,000 people (Yeah right - don't hold your breath - knock a zero off at best!) at its meet at Bosworth Water Park...Leicester Mercury
17.2.05 HUNT PLANS COUNTRY RIDE
- Horses and hounds will be out in force near Uttoxeter only 24 hours after the Government's ban on foxhunting with dogs is outlawed. And more than 100 members of the exclusive Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt, many from Uttoxeter, claim they will be breaking no laws and hunting no foxes when they meet on Saturday. They say they will merely be holding a 'country ride and hound exercising day' and have no intention of hunting anything... Staffordshire Post
16.2.05 TALLY-HO!
Prince Charles took part in a Derbyshire fox hunt yesterday - less than three days before hunting with dogs becomes illegal. The Prince joined the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt as they began a five-hour outing across countryside around Tissington, near Ashbourne... Derby Evening Telegraph
16.2.05 Hunts unite to hit trail for fox scent
HUNT supporters are being invited to attend a mass meet at Darley Moor airfield on Saturday.
Members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt, the Staffordshire Moorlands Hunt and the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire Beagles will come together at noon for the first ‘legal' hunt after the Government ban on fox-hunting which comes into force on Thursday... Ashbourne News Telegraph
15.2.05 Campaigners defiant
by DAVID POWLES - HUNDREDS of hunt campaigners are planning a horseback protest against its ban — two days after the new law is implemented.
Members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt, The Staffordshire Moorlands Hunt and The DNS Beagles, will gather at Darley Moor Aerodrome, off the A515 between Sudbury and Ashbourne, on Saturday... Burton Mail
15.2.05 MIXED EMOTIONS AS HUNT MEETS FOR LAST TIME
As The Prince of Wales was discussing organic farming at Beechenhill Farm yesterday he probably knew that just a stone's throw away one of his other passions was being played out for the last time The Staffordshire Moorlands Hunt, which the Prince has joined on several occasions since it was founded in 1980, gathered at Back o' th' Brook farm at Waterfall, near Leek, for its last foxhunt before the ban against hunting with hounds comes into effect on Friday…. The Sentinel