National Trust: Rebel members vow to continue ‘war on woke’

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National Trust
Gareth Milner

By Gareth Milner


Published: 31/10/2021

- 13:22

Updated: 31/10/2021

- 13:23

Restore Trust have claimed to have thousands of pounds in a war chest along with thousands of current and former National Trust members within their ranks.

Restore Trust are a group of campaigners who say they seek to uphold the National Trust’s traditional values; they have said they will continue with their efforts after narrow defeats in two motions as part of their ‘war on woke.’

The Annual General Meeting which took place in Harrogate on Saturday saw votes concerning the treatment of curators and volunteers, narrowly lost by just over 2,000 votes.


Restore Trust have claimed to have thousands of pounds in a war chest along with thousands of current and former National Trust members within their ranks.

They have also backed six candidates for vacant positions on the 36-seat governing council of the Trust, only three managed to be elected.

Restore Trust has been at least partially successful in their efforts after there was mass support for a resolution to disclose senior staff pay levels within the National Trust. However, the Trust had backed this motion as it believed it already complies with the requested demands.

National Trust members had also voted to ban trail hunting amid fears it is being used as a “smokescreen” for chasing and killing foxes.

Members supported a motion not to allow the activity on trust land, with those who proposed it stating that “overwhelming evidence leads to the conclusion that ‘trail hunting’ is a cover for hunting with dogs”.

A total of 76,816 votes were cast for the motion, with 38,184 votes against and 18,047 abstentions.

The results of the vote are not binding, but the board of trustees is expected to consider the outcome following Saturday’s annual general meeting.

Demonstrators from the League Against Cruel Sports gathered outside Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire as the event was being held, to show their support for the banning proposal.

The Hunting Act 2004 banned hunting with dogs.

Trail hunting simulates a traditional hunt without foxes being deliberately chased or killed by laying an artificial scent for riders.

In November last year the National Trust and Forestry England suspended licences for trail hunting on their land in response to a police investigation into webinars involving huntsmen discussing the practice.

Saturday’s vote comes just weeks after a prominent huntsman was convicted after giving advice about how to covertly carry out illegal fox hunts

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