Letters: Protect the New Forest from this invasion of dogs, cyclists and visitors

SIR - I write as a private individual and not as a member of any organisation or group.

I write as a resident of the New Forest and as one extremely concerned about the future of the Forest.

Almost every week, one reads in your columns details of commoners' animals slaughtered by ignorant and arrogant motorists, or of animals suffering horrific injuries as a result of attacks by out of control dogs.

On the Forest itself, one meets dog owners with well-behaved and controlled dogs, but all too often one meets out of control dogs whose owners simply say that their animal is being friendly.

Tell that to the horse that has been scared witless by such a dog, to the rider who has been unhorsed by such a dog or to the animal that has been savaged.

The cyclist on the Forest appear to exist in a strange world where many ignore all official documents and believe they are entitled to rampage wherever they wish.

Well-signed cycle routes are ignored and any attempt to point out to the cyclist that they should confine their activities to a listed cycle route and not the open Forest is met with hostility and even the threat of physical violence.

We are burdened with Go Forest, an organisation that seems to exist simply for the purpose of bringing even more people into an overcrowded area, with Natural England who seem to wish to turn the Forest into a primeval mosquito ridden swamp, and the national park authority who seem determined to turn the Forest into a Disneyworld.

There are many extremely good organisations in the Forest, and one would like to think the verderers might take the lead, but has the time come for a new organisation to come into being to protect the Forest from the invasive forces which will only ultimately lead to the total destruction of the Forest?

Ian Davis,

New Milton