Cerne Abbas Giant in 'shocking' state and 'worst it's been'

The ancient chalk figure of a naked man has become overgrown, masking the ancient giant and his huge appendage.

Disappointed visitors who travel from all over the country to view the 180ft hillside giant in the Dorset countryside have struggled to make out the chalk outline.

There are now calls for the National Trust, which has owned the site since 1920, to give the giant a trim.

The trust has put the reduced visibility down to the 'exceptionally wet summer' which has caused the grass to become so overgrown.

The outline of the giant is barely visible (Image: BNPS)

This week a flock of sheep were let loose on the protected hillside to deal with the long grass as the steep hillside makes it unsafe for people to mow.

However the move is too late for some visitors.

A 62-year-old female visitor said: "I went there last Sunday and was just quite shocked at how bad it was.

"People travel from far and wide to see it but they will be disappointed.

"It is such a big landmark that I don't think it will stop people coming but the National Trust have no excuses to not maintain it.

"I know everyone is struggling at the moment but the National Trust will happily take your money.

"If you go to the Fovant Badges in Wiltshire they are always perfectly maintained. I don't see why this can't be the same."

Barry Howe, from Monmouth, said: "Worst I have ever seen it and I have passed it many times. There's no attraction there."

Maureen Lock said: "Surely it needs regular maintenance to keep it looking good. After all it is one of Dorset's famous landmarks."

But Jackie Willis posted on social media: "He just needs a bit of manscaping."

Local resident Lisa Eaton said: "He just needs a tidy up. We saw him a few months ago and he didn't look too bad, he probably just needs weeding."

Another resident, Neil Croton, said: "It's just the seasonal growth so I don't see an issue. The site holds some nationally important flora and fauna such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. It has to be carefully managed for them, not just tourists and sightseers."

A spokesperson for the National Trust said: "Caring for the Giant, its archaeology and the Site of Special Scientific Interest that surrounds him, is a complex task.

"Sheep have been returned to the Giant to help reduce the grass growth.

"The enclosure around the Giant is grazed at least twice a year, which helps to maintain the visibility of the Giant, and also creates perfect conditions for the plants and butterflies to flourish on the chalk grassland.

"This year the exceptionally wet summer has boosted the grass growth and temporarily reduced visibility of the Giant.

"Following grazing, our small ranger team will undertake annual maintenance - cleaning, weeding and edging the Giant after grazing and ensuring this iconic landscape feature remains in peak condition.

"Part of conserving the giant means leaving it alone as much as possible. The chalk is replaced every decade or so, a process that takes days of work by National Trust rangers and volunteers.

"The more the ground is disturbed, the quicker the giant erodes."

The National Trust has owned the site since 1920 (Image: BNPS)

The giant was last re-chalked in 2019 to commemorate the National Trust's 100-year ownership of landmark.

It is one of Britain's largest hill figures and can normally be seen for miles around.

The giant when it was clearly visible (Image: Graham Hunt)

The first documented mention of the giant was in 1694, yet it remains unclear exactly when it was put into the ground.

Its purpose also remains unclear, yet it has often been seen as a fertility symbol, leading to superstitious couples having sex on his 30ft appendage.

He has been in danger of disappearing before, most notably when it was covered by brushwood during World War II to prevent the Luftwaffe from using it for navigational purposes.