Wentworth landowners blasted for allowing hunt with dogs to use their land

Hunt saboteurs said they were angry Wentworth Estates had permitted the ride-out by the Grove and Rufford Hunt, three of whose members were fined last year for breaking the law banning fox hunting.

Wentworth Estates manager Anthony Barber-Lomax said the Grove and Rufford Hunt was following a “drag trail” — an artificially laid scent — when it visited the estate on February 22, not engaging in fox hunting.

But members of the Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs dismissed the “drag trail” claims as a cover-up.

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They pointed out the hunt members had made the same claim when they were accused of killing a fox in Nottinghamshire two years ago, and highlighted that the hunt had not made any changes to its staffing since last year’s court convictions.

Tommy Woodward, of the Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs, said: “We don’t believe the hunt killed anything on February 22.

“But what we don’t understand is why the estate would allow the hunt on its land, especially a hunt which has been convicted of breaking the law.”

Mr Woodward said around 25 riders and a similar number of dogs had taken part in the Wentworth hunt and claimed a newly-planted hedge had been trampled over by horses, dogs had gone into residents’ gardens and the group had been blocked in a public highway by “intimidating” estate staff.

Mr Barber-Lomax disputed the claims and said the group was “exaggerating” and there had been one estate staff member “assisting the hunt”.

Of the hunt, he said: “It gives youngsters and the horses an opportunity to get out on ground they would not otherwise be able to and exercise as much as anything.”

Mr Barber-Lomax said he had only been made aware about the convicted hunt members after being contacted by Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey the night before the hunt.

He said “the activity of horse and hounds” was part of Wentworth’s heritage, adding: “We don’t interfere with people’s leisure activities.”

Mr Barber-Lomax said “They’re following a drag trail.

“They have to conduct themselves within the boundaries of the law.”

A hunt spokesman said: “Trails were laid as usual and even the saboteurs recognised nothing was killed. 

“It can be quite frightening for people to be harassed and videoed by hunt saboteurs wearing balaclavas and carrying sticks.”

MP John Healey, who backed the 2004 act to ban fox hunting, said a constituent had raised concerns with him about the hunt which prompted him to alert the police, Wentworth Estates and the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.

Mr Healey said: “The Trust confirmed they’d given no permission for the hunt to meet in the grounds of the Great House.

“The estate told me that Grove and Rufford is the only hunt that visits Wentworth and their activities are governed by the estate’s terms of access permit, which requires them to conduct themselves within the bounds of the law.”

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