Giving something back

Hunts receive a lot of support from their local communities, but what do they do in return? As Abi Butcher discovers, one thing is raising a great deal of money for charitable causes

- Abi Butcher

OVER the past year, hunts have shown in abundance the strength, resilience and generosity of spirit for which country folk are known.

With the onset of the Covid pandemic, while dealing with their own financial worries, adjusting to legislation and the difficulties of coming in and out of lockdown hunts across the UK have continued to raise funds for charity and give back to communities within their local area.

This ability to give time, effort and money – especially during times of adversity – is not new. Before the pandemic, hunts across the UK raised hundreds of thousands between them for charities and gave in kind their time and resources to those in need.

Whether it be collecting coats for Syrian refugees, donating game for meals for the homeless, setting up giant waterslides, mini Game Fairs, hedge-laying competitions, donating Tumblers Club cash to local air ambulances or taking hounds to meet dementia patients, hunts continue to display their resourcefulness as well as innovation in spades.

Alice Bowden, director of the Hunting Office explains: “People get a lot out of hunting, it’s not just the ‘going hunting’ but the community spirit and camaraderie, the team spirit born from having a common passion. Everyone is very hard-working in their own lives. In many walks of life, if people are busy they are the sort who will volunteer more – busy people find the time, it’s in their nature.”