Pic: BNPS.CO.UK

The BBC reports that the Cerne Abbas Giant has suffered as a result of the increase in wet weather we are getting here in the UK. As you can see from the picture to the left, the archetypal image of the Dagda (if that is who he represents), has almost disappeared under the rapidly growing grass. And thanks to a decline in sheep farming in the surrounding area, the flock that traditionally graze on the site have been unavailable to provide the giant figure with its annual trim.

Traditionally the National Trust introduces local animals to the area near the Dorset village of Cerne Abbas during the spring and summer months to keep the grass down.

Environmentalists are now calling on the National Trust to find replacement sheep for the hillside or have it cut back by human hands.

Pic: BNPS.CO.UK

They report that Rodney Legg, chairman of the Open Spaces Society, said: We have had a very wet start to the summer and the grass and weeds have grown vigorously. This year the giant has gone from being a white icon, through a green man stage, into the invisible man. We need more sheep on the site or it needs the village to take him into their care by trimming the grass, weeding the trenches and whitewashing them.

Its original purpose is also unclear but traditionally it has been viewed as a fertility symbol.

Rob Rhodes, National Trust head warden for west Dorset, said:

Every year we have sheep on the hillside eating the grass to keep the giant visible.

Ancient spirituality

We rely on local farmers and the way agriculture is going at the moment, there’s hardly any sheep left in that part of Dorset.

He added that the wet weather had caused a lot of moss and lichen to grow on the giant making the white chalk a greeny colour. Mr Rhodes said:

He is not completely invisible but he is quite overgrown.

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 WWII, the giant was disguised to prevent the Germans using him as an aerial landmark.

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