I WOULD like to inform the writer of the letter about the boar (name withheld) that when I was a youngster most people had a “pig’s cot” and a hook hanging from the scullery ceiling to hang pigs which were fed on scraps from the kitchen table.

Now, you may ask, what is this to do with wild boars?

Well, these are pigs whatever you call them and, going back to my opening statement, I would like to inform the Save the Boar people that when the ordinary people kept pigs they were allowed (by law) to let them out for one week a year foraging for acorns provided they were ringed to stop them damaging the countryside.

Otherwise they would be fine. I wonder what would happen now if I kept a pig  and let it out all the year around without a ring in its nose?

Now to say they only come into villages because they are getting shot in the woods takes a bit of believing.

They come into villages because there is more choice of nice grass which they can rout up to get worms.

No, I am not afraid to put  my name to this letter.

– Alan Beddis, Pillowell.