The Cheshire Hunt was formed in 1763 by the Hon. John Smith-Barry of Marbury Hall near Northwich. Enclosed is a copy of a letter written by Captain G. Fergusson who has sent a copy of his book "The Green Collars" containing information about the Tarporley Hunt Club and the Cheshire Hunt, to Lord Burns.

The Cheshire Hunt has tremendous support from farmers and landowners within its hunted country. At the present time we are forbidden on only 1.6% of land within our large country. Cheshire has a dense livestock population and hunting is well received by farmers requiring protection for their lambs and calves etc.. At this present time farmers depend upon the hunt for free fallen stock collection. The Hunt purchased an incinerator costing in excess of £6,000 almost two years ago and also pays for skips to remove the offal. The cost of this service in the year to 30th April 1999 was more than £30,000 to the Hunt. It is now recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and there are many occasions when the Hunt goes out to problem stock at all hours of the day and night.

Fox control is of great importance in Cheshire with our large, livestock population. The Hunt starts Autumn hunting in mid August and proper hunting the first week of November. Hounds go out about 80 times per season. Last season 45 brace of foxes were killed by the Cheshire Hunt. There is a long tradition of hunting in Cheshire. Participants come from all walks of life. At present we have a large number of farmers who are members and subscribers as well as businessmen and tradesmen from local towns and some further afield. Throughout the season the Hunt is invited for lawn meets at farms, private houses and public houses. These are well organised and held in fields and private yards were everyone is made very welcome. Socially, the Hunt holds hunt balls, summer dances, hot pot suppers, lunch parties and in some years a pantomime. Outside activities include an annual point-to-point, pony club events, hunter trials, a puppy show and around six or seven church/charity/hunt fund raising fun rides. For countryside conservation there is a hedge laying competition followed by a late lunch in a local pub and some cover laying work done. The Cheshire itself directly employs

three people and generates employment for four other people. Hunt followers employ many part time horse helpers and grooms, and local blacksmiths, veterinary surgeons, feed merchants and saddlery shops are all busy during the hunting season and must also generate extra employment.

The Cheshire Hunt has had a difficult time with Hunt saboteurs and their activists. Apart from those against hunting we have suffered a backlash from the death of Michael Hill on February 9th 1991. He was a young anti who was killed in an accident in connection with the Cheshire Beagles. Around the anniversary each year antis have attacked very strongly as well as at other times. They have blown hunting horns and tried to draw hounds on to roads; they have sprayed hounds with aerosols and unpleasant substances. At times they have attacked followers, hit horses, smashed vehicles and slashed tyres. In the early 1990s the Hunt had to employ guards to protect vehicles whilst the Hunt was out. One year when a hunting person was at the TarporIey Hunt Club dinner red paint was thrown all over his house and windows and the vehicles outside badly damaged.

Hunting is a wonderful way of uniting the countryside and teaching everyone to help each other. It is unfortunate that some media who do not understand the depth and value of hunting, try to provoke ill feeling. To support hunting members and supporters attended rallies in Birmingham, Newcastle and Cardiff in the autumn of 1999. On October 10th in Birmingham some prayers were said for the victims and families from the Paddington railway disaster earlier that week, and the whole rally bowed their heads in complete silence. It was most unpleasant and thoughtless to have anti hunting activists jeering and shouting throughout this sad silence. It was also noted that a large number of them wore red sweatshirts with "abolish angling" on them and they were a very rough crowd.

I do hope these few notes along with Captain Fergusson's good letter and book give a true picture of the Cheshire Hunt in this present day.

20.2.00

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Uploaded to site 6 June 2000