*** 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”.
![](https://network23.org/3chuntsabs/files/2019/10/earth1.png)
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…).
![](https://network23.org/3chuntsabs/files/2019/10/earth3-1024x486.png)
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.