Little did I know that when we started up Endangered Exmoor we would be marching down Whitehall and past Downing Street. Nor did I know that we would also be meeting Government Ministers and MPs, travelling around the country promoting hunting and tourism on Exmoor at all the big country shows, giving TV and radio interviews, and writing for our local newspaper. We've come a long way in three years.

Endangered Exmoor came into being as a result of West Somerset District Council's enlightened report on the economic, social and environmental aspects of hunting with hounds in West Somerset and Exmoor - the only council in the country, I believe, to carry out such research. Its conclusion was that a ban on hunting would "pose a severe challenge" to our community. Some £13.5 million is generated by field sports in this area, and ploughed back into the rural economy.

Then came that fateful evening when Mr Blair said on TV's Question Time that he would ban hunting. So with this threat and farming going into free fall, a few locals - among them farmers, farriers, a livery yard owner - sat round my kitchen table and set up Endangered Exmoor to try to highlight to a wider audience our way of life.

Hunting is the lifeblood of the hill communities of Exmoor. Those who would criminalise our sport and our way of life tell us to find other jobs, take up other pursuits, forget our heritage. Those people weren't here during the foot and mouth crisis when hunting was suspended for 12 months. Some Exmoor businesses collapsed overnight.

So why am I marching? That's simple - the reason is Exmoor. Its community, its people, the red deer, the hunting and the complete way of life is something I feel so passionate about protecting and fighting for. We had taken our way of life for granted and it was only when the Government threatened that way of life that we got off our butts to do something about it.

Exmoor people are gentle and softly spoken - but our backs are against the wall and, with nowhere else to go but to come out fighting, we intend to make ourselves heard and fight for our livelihood, our culture and heritage.

We are an ethnic minority. We have so much to preserve and this government has shown not to have an ounce of understanding about country life. Let's be honest, they don't give a toss about us, and Mr Blair's backbenchers are baying for our blood. We are being forced to make a stand and joining the march is the only way that we know to peacefully demonstrate. Is it too naive to think that this government will listen to us?

And surely it cannot be so irresponsible as to ban deer hunting without having some form of deer management in place. Perhaps I should take off my rose-tinted specs. Exmoor is a special place, which even Alun Michael, the Minister for Rural Affairs, had to admit when he visited Exmoor and met Endangered Exmoor a couple of weeks ago. The red deer herd makes it a special and unique place, and I believe with a passion that the only way to manage and preserve the finest herd of red deer in Europe is by hunting with hounds.

There is a "science" to staghunting and it is a very easy one to justify. Without this form of deer management, I am convinced that we will have no deer left. The farmers will shoot out the deer in a very short time. Without hunting the farmers will not tolerate herds of deer eating their crops and grass and damaging their banks and hedges.

So, the build-up to the Countryside March has been feverish with the media clamouring for interviews with "earthy" Exmoor people. Banners had to be made, coaches booked and seats filled. Had we booked too many coaches; were we too optimistic?

The answer is emphatically no! Thirty coaches left Exmoor yesterday; if we could have got more we would have filled them, and the Westcountry special train from Taunton was completely full.

I think the highlight of this weekend was actually at midnight on Saturday when 16 runners came over Westminster Bridge and into Parliament Square, having started at John O'Groats a few days before.

They were greeted with rapturous applause by 500 supporters and well-wishers who had been waiting a couple of hours for them.

With a full moon and a lone piper playing, the emotion and atmosphere was electric, and I felt we could achieve anything. Cars, coaches and vans hooted the support as we drove past.

Yesterday morning we joined the "Liberty" March from Hyde Park Corner and shuffled our way to the start. A mass of marchers, waving their banners and blowing horns - so good-humoured and polite, from all walks of life.

One man on the top floor balcony of the Ritz showed his support wearing only a Davy Crockett hat on his head.

As we walked along Piccadilly, St James, Pall Mall and into Trafalgar Square we joined with the "Livelihood" Marchers down Whitehall where the hollering and whistling intensified.

Abruptly the noise and hullabaloo ceased as we marched solemnly past the Cenotaph in silence. I felt completely choked up and I noticed around me that several marchers had tears in their eyes - thinking of their forebears who had gone to war and given their lives fighting for just the freedom this Government wants to take away from us.

Then on through the people-counter - which at 2pm had checked in 219,000 - after which both Liberty and Livelihood marchers parked and we dispersed.

A momentous occasion - one which I sincerely hope will make this Government sit up and take note. If not, then the gloves come off and we take matters into our own hands. We have a lot to lose and a lot worth fighting for.

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