A Sheffield couple are planning to host a charity rock festival to raise awareness for fox hunting in the region.
Rae and Rose Robinson of Heeley, Sheffield, hope that they charity rock festival will raise money and awareness for the Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs in their quest to stop the ‘vile and barbaric’ illegal hunting of foxes.
Mrs Robinson said: “I remember driving home and all of a sudden a fox and then the hunt with all the dogs and horses came across the road in front of me, it was really frightening.”
The hoped venue for the event on October the 8th is the Churchhouse Pub in central Sheffield, famous for live rock music events.
The couple are expecting a turnout out of 120-150 people with five bands already having agreed to participate in the event.
Co-organiser Mr Robinson said: “We will have the bands starting at 2:00pm with each band playing for around a 40 minute slot with a 20 minute break before the next band begins.”
One band that has already agreed to perform is local rock group ‘Top Gun’ who Mr Robinson said the band were ‘top notch’ and ‘one of the best in the area’.
Member of the band, Jamie Jimjam Whittaker said; “Rae and Rose Robinson are friends of mine at a gig recently and that they wanted to arrange a gig for the Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs, I said we would definitely be up for playing at that. I’m against animal cruelty and stuff like fox hunts are just awful.”
The couple decided to organise this event after ITV published videos they described as ‘vile’ with foxes being shown torn apart.
Rose went on to say; “We both have a passion for rock music and a love for the protection of all animals. The government is involved in all that goes on with the hunting and they know they can get away with it. It has now become out of control.”
In 2004 legislation was passed – Hunting Act – by the government which banned the hunting of most wild mammals notably foxes, deer, hares and mink with dogs in England and Wales.
One pest control contractor, who did not want to be named, provides private services to farmers said on the matter: “The need for predator control (shooting foxes) is a necessary measure needed for the protection of endangered ground-nesting birds, in fact the government are introducing new subsidies for its benefits.”
“Foxes kill their prey the same way the dogs will kill the fox. You don’t hear animal rights activists complaining about a Fox savaging an English Partridge that is in its nest!”
The couple wanted to make it clear that it isn’t just foxes, but the badger cull explosion since 2010 has also exploded in shocking numbers.
Mr Robinson also said; “The use of drones is making it harder for the saboteurs to prevent the hunts from happening. A lot of people don’t know that this still goes on.”
It is hoped the event will bring to light the pressing issue facing UK wildlife and the donations given will go to organisations preventing these hunts from happening more in the future.