A total of 337.39 acres of land around the Cerne Abbas Giant was listed for sale for the first time in around 80 years by private treaty for £2.9m in August. The land, split into five lots for sale as a whole or individually, is of ecological, agricultural and historic importance around one of Dorset’s iconic landmarks.
Residents were apprehensive about the future of the site before the National Trust announced that it launched an appeal to purchase some of the land.
The Cerne Abbas chalk giant after being re-chalked September 2019. (Image: ©National Trust Images/Mike Caln)
The National Trust launched an appeal to raise £330,000 to help fund the purchase and care of, 138‑hectares (340‑acres) of the land around the giant in a bid to protect and restore this nationally important landscape for wildlife, people and future generations.
Thanks to generous grants and donations, the charity says it is close to its target raising over £170k but needs to raise the remaining funds by the end of January.
Hannah Jefferson, General Manager for West Dorset & Cranborne Chase, said: “We know how much the Giant means to local people. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure the Giant’s landscape and create a thriving nature haven for rare species like the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Every donation, big or small, will make a difference.
The National Trust are hoping to raise the additional funds required to secure the land around the Cerne Giant in Dorset, which has been cared for by the Trust since the 1920s. Cerne Abbas, Giants Hill (Image: National Trust)
“This is the final push and we need your help to make sure this extraordinary landscape is protected forever.”
The trust hopes to raise the funds by the end of January. Any donations received after January 30, or after the appeal has reached its target, will be used to support habitat creation, transform the wider site for nature and for people to enjoy, and improve access in consultation with the local community.
To help, you can donate online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cerne-giant-appeal
Locals can also pick up one of three Cerne Giant appeal pin badges at local National Trust places including Studland Bay, Kingston Lacy, Stourhead, Lyme Regis shop and Hive Beach – Burton Bradstock, or at Cerne Abbas Brewery, The Old Saddler, Cerne Abbas Stores and Post Office, the New Inn and the Royal Oak.