This is Dr Wilson from DEFRA examining a piece of formerly beautiful herb, grass, fungus and invertebrate rich turf in an attempt to identify the culprit who dug it up. Wild boar, well known at Kingcombe, Melbury and Powerstock, have been suspected and Dr Wilson is an expert in such matters. After a thorough walk around Hogg Cliff he was unable dismiss the wild boar theory completely but thinks that badgers are the more likely cause.

Hogg Cliff has a very large badger population, probably 30 per square kilometre. Dr Wilson explained that this is thirty times the primordial density. The damage covers many hectares, probably one third of the high quality chalk downland has been destroyed and the rest remains under threat. It would be unfortunate if badgers are to blame for all this destruction as they are a protected species and there would be absolutely nothing that could be done. This is an example of conservation legislation backfiring - protecting one species at the expense of hundreds of others. Another picture here.

However the wild boar theory is still alive and I would be very interested to hear any reports of boar in the vicinity. I have heard an unsubstantiated report of one rooting around by the railway line. Wild boar are not protected and can be shot (if you can find them!). I always thought it would be great if boar could be reintroduced to this country (they were wiped out in the seventeenth century) but having seen at Kingcombe and perhaps now, Hogg Cliff, the terrible damage they can inflict I realise that our highly tamed countyside is largely unable to support them.