Groundbreakers

After centuries of absence, wild boar are back in Britain. What does this mean for us - and them?

Large, messy and complex - crossing paths with a wild boar conjures fear and joy in equal measure. Driven to extinction seven hundred years ago, a combination of the species' own tenacity and illegal releases from the 1980s have seen several populations of this beast of myth roam through our woods once again.

The boar's right to exist in Britain is debated not only due to their impacts on people, but also as habitat-regenerating creatures. Like beaver, boar are 'ecosystem engineers', with their foraging behaviour benefiting a wide range of species. The beaver, however, has been taken to the rewilder's heart, yet the boar remains ignored. Is the boar too disruptive to be loved? Why is there no clamour to reintroduce this animal across the land?

In Groundbreakers, author Chantal Lyons embarks on a journey of discovery, moving to the Forest of Dean to be close to the boar's main stronghold. Drawing on scientific literature, personal experience and interviews with other 'boar people', she delves into the polarity of views towards boar. From Toulouse and Barcelona where boar are hunted after growing in number and boldness, to a rewilding estate in Inverness celebrating their presence, join Chantal as she unravels the practicalities and ethics of coexisting with wild boar.