*** Berkeley Hunt, who claim to lay trails, host ‘Earth-Stoppers Supper’ in area soon to be involved in badger culling ***
“Successful hunting depends very largely on thorough earth-stopping, which means blocking foxes’ dens while they’re out, so they cannot duck back in” – Terrence Carroll
“… if a fox goes to ground, half a crown will be deducted for every time any hole is found open – money paid to them at an annual dinner in the centre of the country” – Thomas Smith Esq.
“Many countries used to pay an earth-stopper a regular salary, and then fine him half-a-crown each time a fox went to ground in a known earth”. The Duke of Beaufort (quoted above) said that his earth-stoppers would have an annual feast in Badminton (he would lead the singing) then they would be “presented with a fee on the production of their pile of earth-stopping cards”.
With hunts now claiming to follow laid trails, why would the Berkeley Hunt be hosting a supper for their earth-stoppers last Saturday evening? We currently have a number of people out surveying for badger setts (due to the upcoming culls – see Gloucestershire Badger Office for more information) and one group noticed a sudden influx of vehicles heading into the Berkeley Estate (with the Berkeley Show the following day they were either very early or there for another reason…).
Laying on the grass near the premises was an invite, picked up by our sett-surveyors… the contact number to RSVP to is Tom Whittaker’s – the Hunt Secretary. Apparently they failed to mention ‘Earth-Stoppers Supper’ on their hunt supporter’s club section of the hunt website.
For more information about our work against earth-stopping and hunting, see our articles ‘Hunts vs Badgers‘ and ‘Terrierwork: Past and Present‘
If you have any information regarding the Berkeley Hunt and their earth-stopping or other activities, please send it our way – we are well-known for keeping our sources’ identities confidential and you can contact us anonymously by phone on 07891 639803 or via email – threecountiessabs[at]live.co.uk or via facebook.