Who We Are & What We Do

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Our Mission

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Our mission is to make our countryside a safer place for wildlife. One day we hope for a world where we have a real hunting ban and our wildlife can live in peace. Until that day, we volunteer our time to prevent illegal hunting and other forms of wildlife harm throughout the Northumberland area.

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Our Position

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Although the Hunting Act 2004 outlawed the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, fox hunting has not gone away.
Make no mistake: if hunts are out hunting, then they are hunting a live animal. Trail hunting does not exist — it is just another name for fox hunting.

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Our Role

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Northumberland Hunt Watch is a group of volunteer wildlife guardians who strive to:

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·         Prevent illegal hunting

·         Protect wildlife from harm

·         Support local communities that may suffer the effects of illegal hunting

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Our History

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Northumberland Hunt Watch (NHW) was established in March 2020 by a dedicated volunteer who recognised a pressing gap in wildlife protection in Northumberland.

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Until our founding, no local group was actively monitoring hunts in the region — despite there being multiple active fox hunts operating week after week across Northumberland. Foxes were arguably killed week after week — and no one was providing them the protection they deserve and are entitled to under the Hunting Act 2004.

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We remain the first and only line of defence for the hunted fox in Northumberland

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Our founder brought years of experience in grassroots activism and with it an understanding of issue that she wanted to change. From the outset, our aim was to build a professional, credible team that could operate lawfully, peacefully, and effectively — standing up for wildlife without confrontation and holding hunts to account.

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Northumberland Hunt Watch group leaders possess significant experience and knowledge in policing and the law, wildlife observation, grass roots activism and legal /criminological research. This is a powerful combination in the fight against illegal foxhunting in Northumberland

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Since those early days we have grown steadily: we’ve expanded our volunteer base, improved our tools and training, and made a significant impact on illegal hunting in Northumberland. What started as a small, local initiative has become a trusted regional organisation, active across the length of Northumberland from the Scottish Border to the Durham boundary.

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Our evolution has been marked by key milestones:

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·         Establishing a formal volunteer structure and training programme.

·         Building strong relationships with local law-enforcement agencies and wildlife organisations.

·         Building a strong brand identity and trust in the local community leadi8ng to a significant network of contacts

·         Documenting and monitoring dozens of meets each season — evidence of our growing presence and impact             in the field.

·         Ensuring all our work is funded entirely by donations and volunteer time, reinforcing our independence and                integrity.

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Today, NHW stands firm in our commitment: we defend those who cannot defend themselves, we operate by the book, and we push for meaningful change. Our history is one of increasing strength, growing community support, and unwavering dedication. And as we look ahead, we’re determined to amplify our impact even further.

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Funding & Ethics

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We are funded solely by kind donations from our supporters and by our fundraising activities. 100% of donations we receive are used to support the running of our group — such as petrol and equipment costs — to ensure we can continue our work of keeping wildlife safe.

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Our Objectives

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1. By lawful means, ensure compliance with legislation that protects wildlife to prevent wildlife crime

2. Observe, monitor, gather intelligence and evidence of wildlife harm

3. Enhance partnerships with other community groups who share our aims, through information-sharing, to                      support other wildlife organisations and agencies

4. Assist in the identification and apprehension of perpetrators of wildlife crime by providing information to the              police

5. Promote and campaign for the implementation, or amendment, of legislation that protects wild mammals                  from cruelty

6. Educate the public on issues relating to the protection of wild mammals from illegal hunting and other wildlife            crime

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Our Community

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We are a diverse group — all ages, occupations and backgrounds. What brings us together is a love of wildlife, a passion for what we do, a desire to stop the persecution animals face on a daily basis, and a strong sense of achieving justice for those who can’t defend themselves.

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What We Do

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1. Intelligence & Monitoring
   We initially gather intelligence and monitor a hunt to establish whether illegal hunting is taking place.

2. Maintain a visible deterrent. Prevention is arguably the most preferred outcome so therefore, we will maintain a visible presence and record activity to deter illegal hunting

3. Recording & Evidence
   If our intelligence and observations indicate illegal hunting is occurring, we proceed to record and gather evidence of that activity.

4. Peaceful Intervention
   We are a non-confrontational, peaceful group. Where illegal hunting is identified, we use lawful intervention to save the fox’s life.
   We always act professionally and lawfully, working alongside law enforcement and other agencies to bring perpetrators of wildlife crime to justice.

5. Community Support
   We also offer support to members of local communities who are subjected to hunt violence and intimidation.

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We live in hope that one day our wildlife will live in peace, and free from harm.  Help us make that a reality. 

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Please contact us, in the strictest confidence,  if you have any information at all, or require any assistance 

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