BERELEIGH ESTATE
EAST MEON
PETERSFIELD
HAMPSHIRE
GU32 1PH
ESTATE OFFICE:
Tel: 01730 823486
Fax: 01730 823697
To Lord Burns
21 February 2000
Chairman
Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs
Dear Lord Burns
I am writing as an Estate Owner in Hampshire who does not hunt but supports hunting for traditional reasons in every way possible.
I host the Opening Meet of the local Hunt because I derive huge satisfaction in giving the opportunity to many foot-followers to enjoy my Estate and countryside, as well as those on horses who have complete access to parts of the countryside otherwise out of bounds.
The Hunt have built a jumping course around my Estate for fund-raising purposes which gives other riders the opportunity to ride across country. They can participate in either the Team Chase, Hunter Trial, Sponsored Ride or "Hooves, Heels and Wheels" (a local village charity event). These would attract at least 1,000 riders annually; many of whom do not hunt.
Foxes are a pest as far as my farming and shooting are concerned, but we manage their population with hunting in mind always making sure there are plenty to hunt.
Hares are also a pest to my forestry enterprise (young trees and new hedgerows all have to be protected at considerable cost). Beagles hunt here on a regular basis so we do not reduce the hare population, which is very healthy.
Fallen farm stock are collected at the cost of a phone call, this service provided by the Hunt is hugely undervalued, how else would we dispose of dead cattle or calves without incurring large expense?
Socially the Hunts provide cost free interest and recreation for many older people 96 the foot followers enjoy their two days a week for free. The summer time activities around our jumping course give them the chance to be involved in fence judging or stewarding.
In short hunting is good for the countryside and for those who live in it. If we were not spending so much time and effort raising money to protect hunting we could put it into the countryside instead.
Yours sincerely
William Tyrwhitt-Drake
Date uploaded to site 29 May 2000