One of Britain's most mysterious artworks, the Cerne Abbas Giant, is undergoing a once-in-a-decade revamp earlier than usual due to climate change. The 55-metre-tall chalk figure, located on a hillside in Dorset, is being refreshed with 17 tonnes of chalk to prevent it from disappearing under rain and algae.
Early Renewal Due to Weather Changes
Work to keep the chalk bright and visible typically happens every seven to ten years, but this year's renewal has been moved forward from September to May. The National Trust, which has owned the landmark for over a century, cited changing weather patterns as the reason for the early start. Luke Dawson, lead ranger at the National Trust's West Dorset and Cranborne Chase area, explained: 'We want to keep on top of it because we're seeing that it's starting to overgrow a lot more and fade.'
The renewal process involves dozens of staff and volunteers spending around 300 hours on the task. It begins with cattle grazing on Giant Hill to remove surrounding grass, followed by removing the old chalk layer and carving sharp outlines with spades. The steep slope, with a gradient of about one in three, requires the chalk to be packed tightly by hand to prevent erosion, water damage, weeds, and algae.
New Technique to Combat Algae
In 2019, intense rainfall washed away fresh chalk just days after it was laid. To address this, the National Trust is trialing a new technique this year: mixing chalk with water to create a plaster of Paris-like consistency before application. This aims to prevent the dull, grey-green slime that forms in wet conditions. 'If that algae does not get killed off over winter, coupled with the fact that we're getting wetter summers, it just promotes that algal growth in damp conditions,' Dawson added.
Mysterious Origins
The origin of the Cerne Abbas Giant remains unknown. Local records only date back to the 17th century, but carbon dating in 2021 revealed the figure existed between 700 and 1100 AD. Scott Welland, visitor operations and experience manager at the National Trust, noted: 'One theory is that during that period, the grass grew back, so maybe during that period he disappeared, and no one was aware that he was there until the 1600s. But we still don't know why he's there and why they created him, and that's a mystery.'
Land Acquisition for Wildlife Protection
Recently, the National Trust secured ownership of over 130 hectares of land surrounding the Giant, thanks to a fundraising appeal backed by Sir Stephen Fry. The appeal reached its £330,000 target in just 60 days, ensuring protection for species like the Duke of Burgundy butterfly on the site of special scientific interest.
