Iconic bare chalk determine to get its manhood polished after enchantment backed by Stephen Fry
The 180ft Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset is being re-chalked for the first time in a decade, with 17 tonnes of fresh chalk applied after a Stephen Fry-backed appeal raised £330,000
Stephen has backed the figure(Image: Lev Radin/Shutterstock)
Britain’s rudest chalk figure is getting its enormous manhood polished after an appeal backed by Stephen Fry. The giant figure, which towers 180ft above the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, is undergoing restoration work for the first time in a decade.
Around 17 tonnes of fresh chalk are being applied to the figure’s outline by staff and volunteers from the National Trust, alongside members of the public whose donations recently helped secure the future of the land surrounding the site. “This re-chalking feels especially meaningful,” said Hannah Jefferson, General Manager for the National Trust at West Dorset & Cranborne Chase.
She continued: “For centuries, people have cared for the Giant by renewing him in chalk.
“Now, thanks to thousands of people coming together through the appeal, we can care not just for the figure itself, but for the extraordinary landscape that surrounds him. As fresh white chalk restores the Giant’s unmistakable outline once more, it’s a powerful reminder that his story is still being written – not just by history, but by the people of today.”
The appeal, backed by Stephen Fry, reached its £330,000 target in 60 days, attracting donations from across the UK as well as from supporters in Australia, Japan and Iceland. Together with grants, legacies and major gifts, the campaign has helped secure more than 130 hectares of land around the Giant, including species-rich chalk grassland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an important archaeological landscape.
The area is home to rare wildlife, including the endangered Duke of Burgundy butterfly, and conservationists say the newly protected land offers a rare opportunity to restore habitats while improving public access. Re-chalking the Giant is considered a rare and highly specialised operation, carried out roughly once every 10 years.
The steep chalk hillside, which slopes at around one in three, is vulnerable to erosion. Chalk must therefore be tightly packed by hand to prevent water damage and stop weeds taking hold.
Luke Dawson, Lead Ranger for the National Trust at West Dorset & Cranborne Chase, said traditional techniques were still central to the process. He said: “Re-chalking the Giant relies on techniques that haven’t changed for generations – carefully digging out older material and packing in fresh chalk by hand on a very steep slope.
“It’s how we’ve kept him visible for centuries. In recent years, we’ve noticed algae growth starting to dull the Giant’s bright white outline.
“We can’t say for certain what’s driving that, but warmer, wetter conditions may be a factor and it’s something we’re continuing to investigate. We’re also seeing more intense rainfall, which can increase water run-off and gradually wear away the chalk, so we’re planning further monitoring to understand the impacts and how we might need to adapt – potentially by re-chalking more often.
“We will also explore ways to retain more water within the landscape, for example by allowing areas of scrub to develop and establishing permanent grassland.” The work is being carried out by experienced rangers and specialists supported by trained volunteers.
A small number of supporters who contributed to the fundraising campaign were also given the chance to take part through a prize draw, allowing members of the public to become directly involved in the conservation effort. The origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant have long been debated, with theories ranging from a depiction of the Roman hero Hercules to a satirical image of Oliver Cromwell.
However, scientific analysis commissioned by the National Trust in 2021 suggested the figure was most likely carved during the late Saxon period, between 700 and 1100 AD.
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