IT seems that the letters page in the Review last week was taken over by 'lovers of the boar'.

Their view is that four out of five residents of the Forest of Dean welcome their presence.

I would like to invite the writers of those letters to visit the Viney Hill and Oldcroft areas and speak to local people to ask their views.

A survey of approximately 100 houses was carried out by me recently and only two people out of about 150 said that they liked the boar, and even those people said 'they are ok, but something should be done to control their numbers'.

As for fencing against these animals, this is totally impractical. For instance Yorkley Cricket field, Pillowell recreation ground and other open spaces which are at the moment enjoyed freely by the public for recreation and sport could become no go areas if fenced.

The Forest of Dean is a wildlife-friendly forest with  many species of ground-nesting birds, some very endangered.

Nightjars, woodcock, snipe, larks, pipits and some warblers all nest on the ground and even ducks have their nests on the ground near our ponds.

Then there are snakes, lizards and other invertebrates all trying to raise their young on the forest floor.

Genuine wild boar were in existence in the Forest of Dean a very long time ago.

I question that today the boar we see have been introduced into the forest and cannot therefore be classed with other indigenous wild animals.

While not wishing to remove all the boar I do feel that a much greater control over their numbers is urgently required.

– Oldcroft Resident.