IN last week’s Review (Don’t feed the pigs, January 13) we saw another example of muddled thinking by the Verderers over their failure to control the number of feral boar in our Forest.

Every year, the Verderers have failed to ensure the publication of accurate estimates of the boar population, and have failed to control the exponential growth of this dangerous and highly invasive variety of domesticated pig.  

What’s happening here is no different to what’s been happening in many other countries over several decades. 

The population growth was entirely predictable, as was the extent of the damage to public and private property, and the harm to our native species. 

Instead of taking decisive action when they had the opportunity, the Verderers just sat in their fancy chairs at Speech House, peered out of the window, and watched the chaos unfold.  

Now we read that the Verderers seek to blame a few people who feed the boar for the damage now being caused to churchyards, sports grounds, pasture land, roadside verges, gardens, and our native wildlife species.  

It’s not illegal to feed the boar, and the current situation is not the result of a few kind-natured but misguided people feeding the boar.

Either the Verderers should take the lead in restoring the boar population to a manageable 90 animals, or they should return to their seats and keep quiet.

– Hywel Jones, Forest of Dean Wildlife Protection Group.