"The facts. The 2000 crow act does give some protection to lawful access rites and those that try to impede those rites."

Says Tony Barnett

Again in the news, on Tele, local press and facebook all of which got it wrong, Horseytalk however got the facts correct! this statement came From the National trust in somerset

The report stated that the National trust (NT) had stopped hunting on this common land and then after changed its mind and allowed the hunting to continue, the fact is the kennels were not hunting but scent following, up for discussion though is the locus stan-di claimed by NT.

The NT state that Sir Richard Thomas Dyke Acland gave the house and estate to the trust in or around 1944, this "gift", and his rites is questionable especially when the history of this estate can only be traced back to just over 500 years, several house were built ; 1705 a new Mansion was built on the "estate", 1779, burned to the ground, this was built as a hunting lodge for Devon and somerset Stag Hounds,1851 damaged again by fire in 1941.

Horseytalk commissioned investigations into these claims of ownership, registration of ownership for the 1925-1936 lands registration acts, none can be traced,so the claims by the NT can only be for reference purposes only, this then shows that the Exmoor common land would be registered as a section 9 of the 1965 CRA, meaning no owners could be traced.

To register property for the two afore mentioned acts would need full disclosure of title to pre-date 1189 Quo Warranto statute, the 1290 statute Quia Emptories forbid any new Manors to be created after that date, so the history of the ownership of the Holnicote Estate is insufficient to prove locus stan-di by the NT, or rites by Acland to make deeds of grant or grants of easement.

Horseytalk did contact the National Parks for information as to when the common became a national park or nature reserve, as there is no one to give or make any decision on this common land, it is common land, common land which does not come under the 1876 Metropolitan act or the 1899 commons act, there are no bye-laws, the common is open from all points of view, however, unlawful acts/public order, section 5 is where the police have powers.

Horse riders need to investigate the act of following hounds over Exmoor, as it stands now there is no regulation on access, the acts state that the common is accessed for air and exercise, it does not state for recreation, however the 2000 crow act does give some protection to lawful access rites and those that try to impede those rites.

The NT stated that it provides/issues licenses to horse riders to cover the events following the hounds, one must ask is this to gain revenue, if so, is the NT providing insurance to cover accident?, one also needs to be aware that common lands are un- insurable, access is by choice, commoners grazing animals is by choice but also a right.