9th February 2000

Lord Burns
P.O.Box31010
London
SW1H 9ZL

Dear Lord Burns

I have been asked to write to you by the Countryside Alliance with reference to what effect the ban of hunting would have on the above show. The event was set up 11 years ago and the main objective has always been to try and show the townsfolk a little bit more about the rural way of life. This included agriculture, forestry, conservation, traditional field sports, rural crafts and arena displays over the two days.

The Inquiry chaired by yourself is intended to be totally independent and therefore my view as to what effect a ban on hunting would have to the event must be unbiased. There is no doubt that hunting does have its own position at the Fair as it is an integral part of rural life. This is also reflected through a considerable number of trade stands be they selling hunting equipment or hunting prints. The effect on demand for the latter may be debatable. The Country Fair could certainly be run without hunting although its absence I feel would be extremely detrimental as it is very much part of the countryside and in many ways responsible for the shaping of the landscape. Its role in wildlife management should not be underestimated along with the social part it has to play within the rural community. It is therefore very much part of rural life and would be extremely detrimental should it be missing from the event. As to whether I would still run this event is questionable, I probably would, but as it was one of the main driving forces in starting up the event in the first place, I would have to ask as to whether it is worth doing it.

I think that the disbandment of this event would be a huge disappointment to many people as it is one of the few events that does not specialise on any one side of rural life but tries to give an overall view and enable members of the public to understand a little more about the countryside.

Yours sincerely

9th February 2000

Lord Burns
P.O. Box 31010
London
SW1H 9ZL

Dear Lord Burns

I refer to my previous letter regarding the Cotswold Show and Country Fair and I would also like to write as Chairman of the VWH Hunt Point-to-Point with reference to what effect a ban on hunting would have on this event. The point-to-point is enjoyed by a great number of people from all walks of life as you will be aware and is certainly not just for those in support of hunting.

The sole purpose of the point-to-point is to raise funds for the Hunt, this is run entirely by Hunt members on a voluntary basis with the aim to give pleasure to others and raise money for the Hunt. I became Chairman because of my experience and practical knowledge in running large events and certainly would not have become so involved had it not been in aid of the Hunt and I am sure that I can also speak for everybody on the Committee and those involved on the ground.

Point-to-points are another way of rural life, they are run by the Hunt and without doubt very few if any would be held should hunting be banned. Should this be the case, I am sure it would also have a dire effect on National Hunt racing in this country overall.

This event is also held on land belonging to myself over a tenanted farm. Obviously no rent is charged to the farmer, and I might add the point-to-point, but the farmer does tolerate a considerable amount of inconvenience during March and most certainly would not do so if it were not be in the interests of something he believes in.

The point-to-points in this country give an enormous amount of pleasure to a great many people and I have no doubt in saying that the VWH point-to-point would not exist should there be a ban on hunting.

Yours sincerely

9^th February 2000

Lord Burns
P.O. Box 31010
London
SW1H 9ZL

Dear Lord Burns

Having just written to you with two letters from an event point of view I wish to write to you as Chairman and Director of the above farming company.

You will be fully aware of the damage that foxes can do to all types of livestock on farms and that this inevitably means that their numbers must be controlled and managed by some means or another. My personal belief from practical experience is that the best way of managing and maintaining a healthy fox population is through hunting. It is with the best interests for the countryside and its wildlife in mind that we allow the hounds and their followers to cross our land.

However, not so often mentioned is the extremely valuable and essential service the hunt provide in the removal of our fallen stock. Inevitably animals die on farms and need to be disposed of, a service that has been carried out by the hunts over the past centuries. Indeed only about 10 years ago we as farmers thought that we were doing the hunts a service by giving them our fallen stock as free meat for their hounds. With the problems associated with BSE it very quickly dawned on us, that they provided to us a service. To expand on that in particular the export ban on calves to the Continent leaves us as dairy farmers with no market for our male dairy calves. The Calf Aid Processing Scheme introduced by the Government helped to alleviate the position but the removal of this last year meant that there were many unwanted bobby calves on the market due to the need of having a calf each year. Options for disposal have either been to shoot on the farm and to bury on the farm a method particularly distressing for the farmer and not a productive use of land as a graveyard and a possible source of pollution. I do not personally believe that it is something that the public would wish to see either. The other option once again is the service provided by the hunts. This has been invaluable to many farmers and a less painful way to dispose of their unwanted calves. This has been a huge help to many farmers and another reason as to why we are happy to see them cross our land. For your information, personally we are disposing of our calves through Warwickshire Quality Calves at a cost of £6 per head, an option that is not financially possible to most farmers.

Not to be underrated either is the social side the hunt plays in bringing together farmers over whose land they ride. Unlike cattle or sheep markets where livestock farmers meet, these gatherings by the hunt involve all types of farmers in a way that no other social meeting does during the year.

There is no doubt for a very large proportion of the farming community that should this Government or any other see it fit to ban hunting then not only would we lose a vital service to our farming industry but also a part of our countryside and way of life.

Yours sincerely

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Date uploaded to site 29 May 2000