Rechalking beloved Cerne Giant is a sticky process – and climate crisis is making it worse

The Guardian World Thursday 28 May 2026, 04:00 UTC By Steven Morris 1 min read

Key Points

Volunteers are undertaking the difficult task of rechalking the Cerne Giant in Dorset to maintain its visibility across the countryside. However, the process is becoming more challenging due to the climate crisis, which is making the giant appear duller and potentially more fragile. Consequently, the traditional methods of restoration have needed to be adapted.

Volunteers head to Dorset countryside to restore the figure, but increasing heat means techniques have had to be adapted

For centuries, the custodians of the Cerne Giant have clambered up the dizzyingly steep hill every decade or so to rechalk the outline, making sure the hulking figure can be seen far and wide across the rolling Dorset countryside.

But the painstaking job, which involves hacking out the grubby old chalk by hand and packing in fresh, felt all the more urgent this week because effects put down to the climate emergency are making the giant a little duller and perhaps a touch more fragile.

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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Rechalking beloved Cerne Giant is a sticky process – and climate crisis is making it worse

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