THE Forestry Commission say there are 650 boar in the Forest of Dean "now". The Forest of Dean consists of approximately 42.5sm of 'mixed woodland', soon to be a lot less after they fell 100,000 trees. What they are actually saying is that there are nearly 15 boar for "every square mile" of woodland.

Forgive me for being optimistic, but if this is true, wouldn't we be able to find boar everywhere, all over the Forest? Many people who visit the Forest regularly and also local people, still haven't seen one, even though they have spent countless hours and days searching for them in many areas of the forest.

Along with a friend, who is also a good boar tracker, we covered eight miles of the forest last week and found no boar. Yes of course they are out there, but 15 for every square mile? Come on!

I ask you to please see that the Forestry Commissions estimation of 650 boar is wrong and that they are culling this animal off the back of their "yet again" over inflated estimation of numbers, which many people including the press and local residents are believing.

If there are 15 for every square mile, they must have a secret hiding place where they all meet during the day. Imagine finding around 400 boar, all grouped together in one area! Sound daft? Not as daft as 15 for every square mile!

– Robin Ward.