Trust's £330k appeal to buy Cerne Giant's 'lair'

Standing at 180ft (55m) tall, the Cerne Giant is sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas

A £330,000 appeal to buy the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant has been launched.

The National Trust is hoping to raise the money to help fund the purchase and care of 138 hectares (341 acres) surrounding the ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk in Dorset.

So far over £2m has been raised to buy the swathe of land known as giant's lair, which also includes Giant Hill, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The fundraising effort is being supported by actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry and Countryfile and TV presenter Sean Fletcher. The trust hopes to raise the funds by the end of January 2026.

The trust is hoping to raise the money to secure and maintain a swathe of land around the giant

Standing at 180ft (55m) tall, the Cerne Giant is sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas. The giant was given to the National Trust in 1920.

Giant Hill, is home to 36 butterfly species.

Sir Stephen said: "This is a very rare opportunity to protect a huge swathe of beautiful and biodiverse countryside surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant."

About every 10 years the chalk is replaced by National Trust rangers and volunteers

The trust said purchasing the land would allow the charity to restore and care for sections of chalk grassland, plant new woodland, and create habitats to support species under threat.

National Trust manager for West Dorset & Cranborne Chase Hannah Jefferson said: "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 55metre 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."

The chalk giant recently gained a temporary companion as part of a £40,000 arts project.