Last Saturday, hundreds of people marched alongside OneKind, League Against Cruel Sports Scotland and Scottish Badgers calling for a real foxhunting and snaring ban in Scotland. 

Crowds took to the Royal Mile with placards, banners and costumes as we marched down the Royal Mile, led by a brilliant bagpiper, to the Scottish Parliament, where we then hosted a rally with MSPs and virtual support from celebrities Chris Packham and Peter Egan. 

We were delighted to be joined on the day by Wildlife TV Presenter and Conservationist, Megan McCubbin. We also had our mascot Fergus the Fox in tow to entertain the crowds, 6 actors wearing masks to represent the wide range of species trapped in snares and lots of chanting through our megaphone! 

The public were very supportive, with clapping, cheering and supportive calls. We even picked up a few members of the public along the way! 

Powerful words in favour of a ban 

As well as three campaign videos, which detailed the cruelty of foxhunting and snaring, playing on loop on a large screen outside the Scottish Parliament, we also had brilliant speeches from the Directors of the three organisations and supportive MSPs and a selection virtual videos from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Màiri McAllan and celebrities: 

• Robbie Marsland, League Against Cruel Sports Scotland 
• Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Màiri McAllan 
• Ariane Burgess MSP, Greens 
• Colin Smyth MSP, Labour 
• Ellie Stirling, Scottish Badgers 
• Bob Elliot, OneKind 
• Chris Packham, Wildlife TV Presenter and Conservationist  
• Peter Egan, Actor

Support from afar 

We were overwhelmed by the amount of support we received from those unable to attend the march (largely due to location!). Our live Twitter, Instagram and Facebook coverage of the day received incredible levels of engagement as thousands liked, reposted and posted supportive comments on our content. 

Media coverage 

We also secured mainstream media coverage on the day, with our For the Foxes march being covered by STV News. OneKind Director, Bob Elliot, was also quoted in the article, commenting: 

"Snares are cruel, archaic and indiscriminate traps that ought to have been consigned to the history books a long time ago. 

“The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the impacts of snaring and a ban on the manufacture, sale and use of snares in Scotland is a real possibility. This is an opportune time for us to send a strong message that the public expects a full snaring ban.” 

The future of foxhunting and snaring in Scotland 

Last week, MSPs voted in support of the principles of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill- the Bill with the potential to really ban fox hunting in Scotland- which means it will now proceed to Stage 2, where MSPs can lodge amendments to the Bill. We will be supporting the MSPs who lodge amendments to close these loopholes, so that we finally secure a real fox hunting ban in Scotland.   

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the impact of snaring in Scotland and we have been urging the Government to bring forward a full ban on the manufacture, sale and use of snares in Scotland.  

More than 1,600 letters have recently been sent to the Minister Mairi McAllan calling for a snaring ban.

Please send a letter using our template