Letter: Farmer defies the feudal hunt

Farmer defies the feudal hunt

Sir: I have lived and farmed in the West Country for nearly 50 years, and along with probably more than half of the working farmer population, especially tenant farmers, have continually felt intimidated and pressurised by the local hunt to allow them over my land. Their arrogance is unsettling and reminds one of the old feudal system.

They are a nuisance to the countryside and their effect on the fox population is a total irrelevance: road traffic probably kills 10 times the number of foxes the hunt does. Not only does the hunt damage hedgerows and crops, but, with its uncontrolled stampede of dogs, horses and huntsmen, it terrorises all forms of wildlife over a considerable area.

I am certain a ban on hunting with dogs would show no net loss of employment. People would still love to ride, walk or cycle around our beautiful rural landscapes and horses will still need housing, feeding and shoeing. Let us all work for a ban on this unnecessary and cruel obsession - society as a whole will have taken a great step forward in fairness, justice and equality.

M PARRY

Wedmore, Somerset