National Trust, Please Protect Our Stags

 
How you can help keep stags safe on national trust land

Our first aim is to inform as many National Trust members about what is going on with stag hunting on National Trust land. One of the ways to do this is to order some of our National Trust leaflets and distribute them outside a NT property to members. If you stand on public land, you don’t need permission from anybody. The property doesn’t have to be in the West Country – it can be anywhere. You can order the leaflets here: 

As a member of the public you can contact the National Trust to express your views and concerns. You can contact the National Trust on enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk or 0344 800 1895. An email template can be found here.

Stag hunting & The National Trust History

In 1997 the National Trust commissioned a report into the effects hunting has on deer. This resulted in the publication of the Bateman Report which played a vital role in the demise of stag hunting in the UK. The report categorically proved the inherent cruelty of the practice, and led to the National Trust instantly banning stag hunts on their land, long before the Hunting Act came into play. In 2021 an overwhelming number of National Trust members voted in favour of a trail hunting ban and this is still the concensus today.

Stag hunting & The National Trust Today

Unfortunately despite the ban still being in place it is not being respected or enforced. Stags that should be finding sanctuary on National Trust land are being tormented by the three remaining stag hunts in England. Hunt staff will often enter this land in pursuit of a stag, commiting armed tresspass, leaving any member of the general public using this land in a very vulnerable position. The hunts show little to no respect for the National Trust ban or the Hunting Act, instead choosing to continue subjecting stags to horrifying abuse and breaking the law. It is also worth noting that ALL hunting on National Trust land is illegal as exemption hunting is only valid with the landowners permission. 

Stag hunting & The National Trust, what can be done?

We understand that enforcing a ban on large rural estates can present a logistical challenge but it is the National Trust’s responsibility to manage land according to the wishes of its members, who have voted overwhelmingly against blood sports. We also believe that the National Trust has a duty to visiting members who would expect to be safe from armed huntsman and being caught up in a horrifying hunt.

AAS has access to a wealth of knowledge, experience and resources and we are ready to help the National Trust meet these issues head on. Below are some suggestions that could help to address this issue and ensure that National Trust land is kept protected.

•  The use of drones could mean that National Trust rangers can patrol the land without having to cover a vast area on foot. It also means that hard to reach places by vehicle can also be patrolled easily.
• The hunts could confirm their meet locations ahead of time allowing rangers time to plan where they need to patrol. Prior knowledge of meets narrows down where there is a need for patrols. If hunts are truly intending to stay off National Trust land, as they should be, then there should be no issues with this procedure. 
• With all the evidence that has been collated, the National Trust are well within their rights to request a Community Protection Notice or an injunction. Since the ban came into effect the hunts have not respected it and continue to tresspass, wielding firearms and acting in a manner that is both dangerous to the public and detrimental to wildlife.

AAS are willing to support the National Trust in implementing these strategies or any other course of action that will protect their land and enforce the ban.

Join us and take Action Against Staghunting!