Hundreds flock to traditional Hagley Hall hunt – with PICTURES
Hundreds of people gathered for a Christmas hunt in a tradition which dates back hundreds of years.
The Albrighton and Woodland Hunt, held on Boxing Day (Tuesday 26), took place at Hagley Hall, in Hagley near Stourbridge, where dozens of hunters participated on horseback and were joined by hounds.
The hunt covers around 1,500 square miles over parts of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.
The hunters in Hagley were cheered on by crowds who were wrapped up warm for the occasion on a cool but sunny Winter day.
Fox hunting was banned in 2004. Now hunters follow trails where hounds sniff out the scent of foxes, without any of the animals being harmed.
The hunt is known as the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt South, and is held at the same time as the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt North, which takes place in Newport, Shropshire.
Another one in the Midlands was the Meynell and South Staffordshire hunt, which takes place at Blithfield Hall, Admaston, in Staffordshire.
There were more than registered 250 hunts taking place across the United Kingdom, said Countryside Alliance.
Countryside Alliance’s Head of Hunting, Polly Portwin, said: “With huge crowds showing their support again today and an increasing number of young people joining the hunting field, the future of hunting is secure.”
