Our arrival at Highampton Village Hall/Primary School was met with the usual zombie-like glares from the hunt and its supporters, who were hiding in the carpark behind the hall. Huntswoman Amy Parkin and Whip Richard Trewern were only joined by a handful of riders at the meet. Perhaps the weather forecast had changed the minds of several of the regular riders.
From the meet, Parkin dragged the hunt to Odham Moor, where the hounds picked up a line and headed west across Wagaford Water and onto Hollow Moor. For those who aren’t aware, Hollow Moor and Odham Moor is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and part of the European designated Culm Grassland Special Area of Conservation, “one of the largest continuous areas of species-rich unimproved grassland in Devon”, home to several nationally scarce and vulnerable species. Using an area such as this as a private playground for bloodsports is deeply irresponsible.
The day involved hounds tearing across the boggy SSSI, backwards and forwards until hounds approached the edge of ‘Anglers Paradise’ and dangerously close to a nearby shoot somewhere to the north. Despite Parkin and Trewern’s attempts to bring the hounds away, several decided they didn’t want to come back. An hour passed before the remaining hounds returned. At this point the hunt decided they’d had enough. Having spent a few hours disturbing all manner of wildlife, with foxes and deer seen running in various directions, the hunt headed back to the meet and packed up at around 2:30pm.
