Forestry England: Enforce Your Own Ban and Protect Wildlife

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First name

Last name

Phone

Subject

Letter

To Forestry England,

I am writing to demand immediate and meaningful action in response to the ongoing activities of the Derwent Hunt on land under your care, including Dalby Forest.

Despite your suspension of trail hunting, despite repeated warnings, and despite multiple formal complaints supported by clear evidence, the Derwent Hunt continues to trespass, disrupt wildlife, and impact local communities. This is not a one off-failure. It is a pattern.

And it is happening on your land.

Footage, eyewitness accounts, and police attended incidents all point to the same conclusion. Hounds are out of control. Protected land is being entered without permission. Residents are being affected. Wildlife is being disturbed.

Yet Forestry England’s position remains that action will only be taken in cases of “significant damage” to property.

This is not good enough.

Wildlife disturbance is harm. Repeated trespass is harm. Communities being subjected to uncontrolled hounds is harm.

By setting the threshold at property damage, Forestry England is effectively allowing this behaviour to continue unchecked. A ban that is not enforced is not a ban. It is a statement without consequence.

I am calling on Forestry England to act, not review, not defer, and not pass responsibility elsewhere.

I demand the following:

- Work directly with North Yorkshire Police to support the issuing of a Community Protection Notice (CPN) against the Derwent Hunt.
The evidence already exists. It has been gathered by Forestry England through complaints, by monitors and saboteur groups on the ground, and by local residents whose communities are being impacted. Other police forces have used CPNs effectively to curb exactly this kind of persistent antisocial behaviour. There is no justification for inaction here. By formally supporting this process, Forestry England removes any excuse for delay and helps ensure enforcement actually happens.

- Issue a public statement setting out exactly what you are doing.
Communities deserve transparency. I am asking Forestry England to clearly explain what action has been taken in response to breaches, what enforcement mechanisms are in place, and what will happen when the next incident occurs. Vague assurances are no longer acceptable. The public has a right to know how you are protecting the land, the wildlife, and the people who use it.

- Put in place real enforcement, not symbolic policy.
A suspension that is repeatedly ignored is meaningless. Forestry England must set out clear consequences for breaches and demonstrate that these will be applied. It must also commit to taking proactive action, engaging directly with the Hunt and setting clear consequences for breaches, in line with the more robust approach now being demonstrated by the National Park Authority. Without this, the current situation will continue exactly as it is now.

The Derwent Hunt has been banned. It has been warned. It has been repeatedly caught.

And still, it continues to operate across protected land.

If any other group behaved in this way, entering land without permission, releasing animals, and causing repeated disruption, enforcement would be immediate. The fact that this is not happening raises serious concerns about double standards and a failure to uphold your own responsibilities.

This is no longer about isolated incidents. This is about credibility, accountability, and whether Forestry England is willing to stand by its duty to protect wildlife and public land.

So I ask again, clearly and directly:

How many breaches will it take before you act?

I urge Forestry England to step up, to work with police to secure a Community Protection Notice, and to demonstrate that your policies are more than words on paper.

Wildlife cannot wait for another review. Communities cannot wait for another letter.
Action is needed now.

Sincerely,

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Forestry England: Enforce Your Own Ban and Protect Wildlife

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