The National Trust has successfully raised funds to purchase land surrounding the iconic Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset, with donations pouring in from over 20 countries including Australia, Japan, and Iceland. The appeal, which aimed to raise £330,000, reached its target in just 60 days, with contributions ranging from £1 to over £30,000.
The funds will be used to improve access to the 55-metre chalk figure and to link up habitats for wildlife, particularly the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly. The area is also home to 36 butterfly species and the hazel glove fungus, typically found only in temperate rainforests of western England.
Additionally, the acquisition will enable further archaeological work to uncover the origins of the giant, which is believed to have been carved between AD700 and AD1100. Theories about its identity range from a Celtic god to a fertility symbol or a caricature of Oliver Cromwell.
Luke Dawson, the National Trust’s lead ranger for west Dorset, expressed heartening support from around the world. The trust used its own funds, grants, and bequests to cover £2.2 million of the asking price before launching the public appeal.
In early summer, 10 appeal donors will join staff and volunteers to re-chalk the giant with 17 tonnes of chalk, ensuring its visibility for years to come. The appeal, backed by Sir Stephen Fry, remains open for further contributions.
