Britain’s rudest chalk figure gets a makeover to stop it fading in the rain

The National Trust says changing weather patterns are making the Cerne Abbas Giant harder to maintain, with heavier winter rainfall washing chalk from the hillside more quickly and mild, damp conditions encouraging algae growth. Luke Dawson, a National Trust ranger who helps care for the Dorset landmark, said the wetter weather is having “a dulling effect” on the Giant’s outline, making the figure appear greener and less distinct between maintenance visits.

The Trust is cautious about saying climate change is directly responsible for the changes at the site, noting that the evidence is based on observation rather than proof from a single location. The charity has looked after the Cerne Abbas Giant since 1920, with rangers and volunteers keeping the outline visible by rechalking the figure roughly every decade. Sheep are also used between chalkings to keep grass short and reduce overgrowth.

However, the Trust says recent conditions are making that work more difficult. Heavier winter rains are increasing erosion, while frequent dry spells in summer mean grass grows back more slowly, leaving chalk edges more exposed to wear. As a result, the Giant may need attention more often than every 10 years to preserve its shape and key features. Its most recent restoration came after just seven years.

The concerns come as wider climate trends continue to affect the UK and the rest of the world. Global temperatures are now about 1.4C higher on average than in the late 19th century, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels. The Met Office says the UK’s climate is already clearly different from just a few decades ago and expects the pattern of warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers to continue.

On Thursday, the Met Office also released a report warning that there is an almost nine-in-ten chance the world will experience a new record temperature within the next five years. The forecast adds to concerns that iconic landscapes and historic landmarks may face increasing pressure from more extreme and less predictable weather.

For the National Trust, the Cerne Abbas Giant remains a living part of the landscape as well as a heritage symbol, but its future appearance may depend on more frequent conservation work. The site’s changing condition is being watched closely as staff assess how to protect one of England’s most famous hill figures from the combined effects of rainfall, erosion, and shifting seasonal patterns.