Seven years after 60 ex-farm boar were dumped by the roadside, there are now estimated to be 350 in the Dean – despite forest rangers doubling the number they kill each year. In a draft five-year strategy, the Forestry Commission argues it now needs to cull 250 animals to get the population down to 90 or less to prevent the spectre of what has happened in Germany where boar roam the streets. Wildlife lover David Slater wants the killing to be stopped now. But chief ranger Ian Harvey warns that unless the cull is stepped up, there'll be more damage to property and attacks on dogs, horses and people.

"Foresters and tourists need to be educated not terrified when it comes to boar relations, says naturalist David Slater.

"We don't want to eradicate the boar, but we do need to keep their numbers down," says chief wildlife ranger Ian Harvey.

See this week's Forester for the full debate.