The National Trust has launched a public appeal to raise £330,000 to help fund the purchase and long-term care of 138 hectares (340 acres) of land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant in England—an iconic chalk figure that dates to the Early Middle Ages.
The charity says over £2 million has already been secured through grants and bequests, and is now asking for public support to help complete the purchase and stewardship of what it calls the Giant’s “lair”, including Giant Hill and the surrounding landscape. So far, £151,878 has been raised towards the public target.
Wildlife, chalk grassland, and a protected hill
Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Giant Hill is already home to 36 butterfly species. Among them is the endangered Duke of Burgundy butterfly, alongside other chalk grassland specialists including the Marsh Fritillary and Adonis Blue. The National Trust also notes the presence of the Hazel Glove Fungus, which it says is typically associated with temperate rainforests.
If successful, the purchase would enable the Trust to restore sections of chalk grassland, plant new woodland, and create a mosaic of habitats intended to support species under threat and help wildlife adapt to climate change.
“Ecologically and archaeologically significant”
Researchers working on the Cerne Giant. Photo by Ben Thomas / National Trust
Hannah Jefferson, General Manager for West Dorset & Cranborne Chase, said the appeal is about both landscape conservation and heritage:
“This is an exciting and unique opportunity to give nature a huge boost in Dorset. The land we’re acquiring is extraordinary – it’s home to everything from our huge 55-metre Anglo-Saxon chalk figure to a small butterfly with a three-centimetre wingspan. By protecting the area around the Giant, we can restore a fully functioning ecosystem that supports species under threat and allows wildlife to thrive across the site.
“This land is both ecologically and archaeologically significant. Research shows the Giant itself dates from the Early Medieval Period (770–1100 AD), while the surrounding landscape has been important to people for thousands of years, with evidence of human activity stretching back to 4300 BC. Since the National Trust began caring for the Giant in 1920, we’ve worked to protect its heritage and wildlife – and this appeal is the next step in that journey.”
Photo by Nigel Mykura / Cerne Abbas Giant Renovation (8) / CC BY-SA 2.0
Previously believed to be an ancient or prehistoric site, research published in 2024 revealed that the Cerne Abbas Giant has early medieval origins. It was originally a depiction of Hercules, but its meaning shifted over time.
The Trust hopes to raise the funds by the end of January 2026. Any donations received after 30 January, or after the appeal reaches its target, will be used to support habitat creation, improve access in consultation with the local community, and enhance the wider site for nature and for people to enjoy.
The National Trust has launched a public appeal to raise £330,000 to help fund the purchase and long-term care of 138 hectares (340 acres) of land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant in England—an iconic chalk figure that dates to the Early Middle Ages.
The charity says over £2 million has already been secured through grants and bequests, and is now asking for public support to help complete the purchase and stewardship of what it calls the Giant’s “lair”, including Giant Hill and the surrounding landscape. So far, £151,878 has been raised towards the public target.
Wildlife, chalk grassland, and a protected hill
Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Giant Hill is already home to 36 butterfly species. Among them is the endangered Duke of Burgundy butterfly, alongside other chalk grassland specialists including the Marsh Fritillary and Adonis Blue. The National Trust also notes the presence of the Hazel Glove Fungus, which it says is typically associated with temperate rainforests.
If successful, the purchase would enable the Trust to restore sections of chalk grassland, plant new woodland, and create a mosaic of habitats intended to support species under threat and help wildlife adapt to climate change.
“Ecologically and archaeologically significant”
Hannah Jefferson, General Manager for West Dorset & Cranborne Chase, said the appeal is about both landscape conservation and heritage:
“This is an exciting and unique opportunity to give nature a huge boost in Dorset. The land we’re acquiring is extraordinary – it’s home to everything from our huge 55-metre Anglo-Saxon chalk figure to a small butterfly with a three-centimetre wingspan. By protecting the area around the Giant, we can restore a fully functioning ecosystem that supports species under threat and allows wildlife to thrive across the site.
“This land is both ecologically and archaeologically significant. Research shows the Giant itself dates from the Early Medieval Period (770–1100 AD), while the surrounding landscape has been important to people for thousands of years, with evidence of human activity stretching back to 4300 BC. Since the National Trust began caring for the Giant in 1920, we’ve worked to protect its heritage and wildlife – and this appeal is the next step in that journey.”
Previously believed to be an ancient or prehistoric site, research published in 2024 revealed that the Cerne Abbas Giant has early medieval origins. It was originally a depiction of Hercules, but its meaning shifted over time.
The Trust hopes to raise the funds by the end of January 2026. Any donations received after 30 January, or after the appeal reaches its target, will be used to support habitat creation, improve access in consultation with the local community, and enhance the wider site for nature and for people to enjoy.
Click here to donate
Top Image: The Cerne Abbas Giant is part of a wider, nationally important landscape | © National Trust / James Bec
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