The Derwent Hunt’s Continued Trespass: Why Are Forestry England and Police Failing to Act?

Despite the withdrawal of its hunting licence, repeated warnings, and ongoing police complaints, the Derwent Hunt continues to trespass across protected land in the North York Moors, exposing yet another failure by authorities to enforce wildlife crime.

East Yorkshire Coast Sabs first exposed the Saltersgate Farmers Hunt and Derwent Hunt in 2022, following evidence of illegal activity on the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Levisham Estate, the only land actually owned by the Park Authority. That investigation led to the indefinite revocation of the hunt’s licence to operate on the estate, and the effective collapse of the Saltersgate Farmers Hunt.

Yet the Derwent never went away.

Repeated Trespass, Repeated Warnings

In March 2024, the Derwent Hunt was again filmed trespassing on the Levisham Estate by East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs. The National Park Authority reminded the hunt that it was not welcome and explicitly reserved the right to take further action should trespass happen again.

It has.

On 18 November 2025, the Derwent Hunt was once more caught illegally hunting and trespassing on National Park land. Local residents and Ryedale Hunt Saboteurs reported hounds loose in private gardens, with hounds heard in cry. Screenshots from the Levisham Bugle community WhatsApp group, now held by police, corroborate these reports.

Police officers attended, but once again, despite evidence no formal CPN has been given by police.

Footage above from Ryedale Hunt Sabs shows Derwent Huntsmen Arthur Irvine being questioned.

It appears that the National Park Authority is, at the very least, taking steps to address the Derwent Hunt’s actions, even as police enforcement continues to stall and Forestry England’s response remains notably passive.

In correspondence seen by Protect the Wild, the Authority confirms it has “reasonable grounds to suspect” that the Derwent Hunt has trespassed on its land. This is a significant admission and directly contradicts any suggestion that these incidents are unclear or unsubstantiated.

Following earlier warnings issued in April 2024, in which the Hunt was explicitly told that no activity was permitted on Authority land, the National Park Authority has now formally challenged the Derwent Hunt. It has requested:

• A full explanation of the events that took place in and around Levisham on 18 November

• Written confirmation that horses, riders, and hounds will not enter any part of the Levisham Estate again

This demonstrates a willingness to engage directly with the Hunt and to put expectations clearly on record.

The contrast with Forestry England is stark.

Despite repeated complaints, documented breaches of its own suspension of trail hunting, and escalating concerns from local communities, Forestry England has yet to demonstrate the same level of proactive engagement. There has been no clear evidence of direct challenge, no visible escalation, and no indication of meaningful consequences for continued non-compliance.

Instead, responsibility continues to be deferred, thresholds for action remain unreasonably high, and enforcement is effectively absent.

But questions remain for all authorities involved.

If there are reasonable grounds to suspect trespass, and if prior warnings have clearly been ignored, why has this not yet translated into stronger enforcement or legal action? And why, when one authority is willing to confront the issue directly, are others (Forestry England and North Yorkshire Police) still failing to act?

A Pattern Across Protected Land

Within days of the Levisham trespass:

• The Derwent Hunt was again filmed trespassing on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Chafer Wood Nature Reserve on 15 November 2025 by the Helmsley Monitors, despite previous incidents and warnings.

• Complaints relating to Forestry England land, including Dalby Forest, remain active, following repeated breaches of Forestry England’s own suspension of trail hunting on its estate.

Complaints brought by Ryedale Hunt Saboteurs were escalated to a Stage 3 complaint with Forestry England, prompting FE to issue letters to the Derwent and Staintondale hunts restating that hunting is suspended on FE land, while effectively admitting they would not take action, unless incidents amounted to “significant damage” to property. In doing so, Forestry England acknowledged that it has no meaningful enforcement mechanism and is unwilling to intervene even where wildlife disturbance and repeated trespass are evident.

Wildlife crime, disturbance, loss, or harassment, it seems, does not meet that threshold.

Authorities Passing the Buck

Of all landowners, Forestry England’s response has been consistent: refer matters to the police.

Yet police action remains limited.

Despite repeated trespass, evidence of active hunting, and growing community concern, enforcement has stalled. While the Derwent’s activities clearly meet the definition of persistent antisocial behaviour, there has been no Community Protection Notice, no meaningful restrictions, and no visible deterrent.

This lack of action sits in stark contrast to approaches taken by neighbouring police forces. Lincolnshire Police and Humberside Police Rural Taskforces have previously issued Community Protection Notices to hunts, using existing powers to successfully curb repeated trespass and antisocial conduct.

North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, by comparison, appears to lack either the will or the authority to take similar decisive action.

If one police force can use available powers to address hunt-related antisocial behaviour, the question is unavoidable: why will another not?

If any other group repeatedly entered protected land, released animals, and caused distress to residents, swift enforcement would follow. Hunts, once again, appear to be operating under a different standard.

A Hunt With Nowhere Left to Go

The Derwent’s current huntsman, Arthur Irvine, is reportedly struggling to control hounds or avoid prohibited land. With former figures gone and traditional territories closed off, the hunt appears to be operating reactively, trespassing wherever it can.

In one recent incident, Irvine reportedly attempted to report hunt saboteurs for harassment, only to be stopped by police due to vehicle defects and escorted back to kennels.

Comedy, perhaps, but only if the stakes weren’t so serious.

A Trail Hunting Myth Exposed, Again

These incidents further dismantle the claim that trail hunting is controlled, lawful, or enforceable. When hunts repeatedly trespass, hounds roam out of control, and authorities admit they lack the power, or will, to intervene, the system has failed.

The Derwent Hunt’s behaviour is not an anomaly. It is a case study.

Time for Action, Not Reviews

Complaints are ongoing with:

• North Yorkshire Police Rural Taskforce

• Forestry England

But reviews and correspondence do not protect wildlife, residents, or public land.

Protect the Wild is calling on:

• North Yorkshire Police to take decisive enforcement action and issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN) to the Derwent Hunt, a measure that has already been successfully used against other hunts in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to curb persistent trespass and antisocial behaviour.

• Forestry England must explain how a suspension or ban on hunting, without any meaningful enforcement, is supposed to protect wildlife, public land, or local communities. 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.

The Derwent Hunt was banned.
It was warned.
It was exposed.

And yet, it continues.

How many trespasses are enough?