Giant Chalk Figure Gets Fresh Makeover to Fight Weather Damage

The Cerne Abbas Giant is getting a fresh coat of white chalk to keep it visible on the hillside. This famous figure is 55 meters tall and shows a naked man holding a club. The National Trust takes care of this historic site in Dorset, England. Weather changes are making it harder to keep the giant bright and clear.

Luke Dawson works as a ranger for the National Trust. He says heavier winter rains are washing the chalk away faster than before. Mild, damp weather also helps green algae grow on the figure. This makes the giant look duller and less white between cleaning times.

About 300 workers and volunteers are helping with the project this time. They will carry 17 tons of fresh chalk up the very steep hillside. The work is hard, especially in hot weather like England has been having recently. Workers dig out old chalk by hand and pack in fresh material using the same methods people have used for centuries.

Scientists have learned new things about when the giant was made. Tests on soil showed it was probably carved between 700 and 1100 AD, not in ancient times like people once thought. Some experts think it represents the hero Hercules and might have been a meeting place for armies. Others believe monks later changed its meaning to represent a local saint.