I CAN fully appreciate just how terrified this person must have been because I too had a traumatic experience a few days ago, at Cinderford.

I was met by a family of boar at an intersection whilst walking my dog down the main path/cycleway. They approached us from our right; we were both unaware of each other. It was my worst nightmare scenario, coming face to face with six boar.

The sow turned towards us and, unfortunately, my dog took the full force of her attack. He was headbutted into the forest. I was making such a terrific noise, blowing my whistle, shouting and blasting my alarm that the boars ran off.

Unable to find my dog, who had taken flight, I was unsure whether or not he was injured. Fortunately I later found him, albeit covered in mud, with a bloody nose and absolutely terrified, at the bottom of the forest. He was heading towards the very busy Valley Road.

Afterwards the thought occurred to me that supposing I had been accompanied by young children. How I would have protected them I have no idea. I fully appreciate that the sow was probably as alarmed and unnerved by the encounter as I was and she was only doing what comes naturally in defending her babies. However, we must not forget boar are wild animals and therefore unpredictable. Unfortunately, because people feed them they are now not so wary of humans.

Personally I am now too terrified to venture into the forest alone and no longer feel safe walking in our woods. I strongly believe that something will have to be done before we are overrun by the boar, because once that happens nobody will be able to safely walk or ride in the Forest of Dean.

– Gloria Askey, Cinderford.