THE wild boar can no longer enter the main public area at Beechenhurst – thanks to a new fence installed by the Forestry Commission.

It comes after the Lodge has experienced years of the boar ripping up the ground and causing extra work (and cost) to provide suitable areas for visitors to park, sit and play.

The Forest's head of recreation and public affairs, Phil Morton said: "We want to limit the damage made to the flat grassy areas provided for visitors' enjoyment at Beechenhurst. The area within the fence will be a boar-free zone – for families to enjoy – without the Forestry Commission having the repeated costs of reinstatement. We remind people that when visiting to remember to keep the gates into the wider Forest area shut and to report any damage to the fence that they see."