CONCERNED residents have hit out at the Ministry of Defence for allowing organised hunts to take place at a popular nature reserve.

Essex and Suffolk Hunt has a licence from the MoD to trail or drag hunt on land at Friday Woods in Colchester through to the end of April.

But residents claim the area’s native wildlife is being disturbed by the organised events, which are entirely legal fixtures where riders and hounds follow a scent trail.

Jacqueline Fisher keeps horses near Friday Woods and says on Wednesday she and her son Taurean spotted more than two dozen riders in the area.

She said: “There is a lot of wildlife living in Friday Woods and people are understandably protective of it.

“Drag hunt or not, anyone who knows about wildlife knows it is not good for the area.”

Friday Woods is a nature reserve and Army training camp popular with nature lovers and dog walkers across the town.

It is home to mammals such as foxes, deer and badgers as well as various species of insect, bird, reptiles, fish and amphibians.

A trail hunt attempts to replicate a traditional hunt but without a fox being chased, injured or killed and during each fixture an animal-based scent trail is followed by dogs.

Although perfectly legal, the practice is controversial and has been criticised by the likes of the League Against Cruel Sports.

Traditionally drag hunting uses a non-animal scent, which is pursued after being laid by a drag pulled on a string

Ms Fisher said: “This is the foxes’ home and has been for longer than the Army have been based there.

“I think it is out of order and people have a right to know what is going on. Friday Woods should not be used for this kind of thing.”

Information from a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Gazette has revealed Essex and Suffolk hunt pays the MoD £175, plus VAT, per hunt licence.

There are no limits on the amount of fixtures which can take place on the land each season, or the amount of participants.

The only condition is just two supporting vehicles are allowed to transport supplies.

Seven days notice is required in advance of a fixture and no unauthorised access to MoD land is permitted.

A spokesman for the MOD said: “All permitted hunting activity in Friday Woods has the agreement and approval of Natural England.”

Essex and Suffolk Hunt was contacted for comment.

Earlier this year the MoD further angered residents of Colchester by permanently closing Friday Woods’ Bounstead Road car park, where many walkers left their vehicles before walking through the woods.