A WELL-KNOWN Forest ceramic artist believes extensive boar damaged grass verges are being ‘ignored’ by the Forestry Commission.

Mary Rose Young, who lives and works at Arthurs Folly in Fetter Hill, in Parkend, says residents have found their Forestry-owned grass verges seriously damaged by wild boar rooting for food.

In May she claims she was told by the Forestry Commission not to use her grass verge to publicise her Mad Hatters Tea Table exhibition, but finds the Forestry are not as keen to take action when it comes to boar damage.

She said: “I believe the damage is being ignored by the Forestry. It’s the worst it has ever been. There has certainly been damaged ground before but this time it’s much worse and I can’t really see the verges recovering for ages.

“Last May my brother, James, took some photographs of me on the same grass verge because I’d put a ‘Mad Hatters Tea Table’ out on the road to publicise my exhibition.

“Within three days the Forestry visited to say we weren’t allowed to leave the table out and we had to bring it straight in, which was quite understandable and we complied immediately. But what is the Forestry doing about this roadside mess?”

James added: “The boars are like domestic pets for the Forest of Dean and if somebody’s dog or cat starts doing something anti-social the owner soon finds a way of discouraging them.

“There are reflective signs at the roadside to put deer off going onto the road near Speech House, and I know some animals react strongly to certain scents, surely somebody at the Forestry has got a degree in something like boar blocking.”

The Forestry Commission failed to respond before the Review went to press.