Giant fertility symbol gets make-over

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The well-endowed Cerne Abbas Giant which lies on a Dorset hillside has become obscured by vegetation and moss after a wet summer.

The situation has been worsened by a shortage of sheep farmers lending their flocks to the National Trust. The organisation usually borrows around 100 sheep for a few weeks in May and September to graze on the vegetation and keep the giant in shape.

Rob Rhodes, National Trust head warden for west Dorset, said: "The grass is now pretty much smothering the whole of the giant. He is not completely invisible but he is quite overgrown."

Mr Rhodes will lead a team of four other wardens and around 30 conservation volunteers every day, including schoolchildren and regular visitors.

They will be split into groups with tasks including digging out the older chalk, carrying it to the top of the hill, collecting new chalk and applying it to the trench in several layers

The first record of the giant, also referred to as the Rude Man, dates back to 1694 and he is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Many believe the figure is a symbol of ancient spirituality and fertility and he has been used to advertise products as diverse as condoms, jeans and bicycles.

During the Second World War, the giant was disguised to prevent the Germans using him as an aerial landmark. Since then he has always been visible, receiving regular grass trimmings and a full re-chalking every 10 years.

The last re-chalking was in September 2001 but it was brought forward to this year because of the erosion caused by the recent wet summers.