A huge grass moustache has been added to the UK's largest chalk hill figure. The Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset is sporting facial "hair" in support of Movember, which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. Read more
Cerne Abbas Giant: is he older than we thought? Rob Wilson-North, historic environment manager for the Exmoor National Park Authority, believes that the giant may date from the late 16th or early 17th century after he discovered a pair of man-made earth mounds and a long gulley protruding from them. In a letter to Current Archaeology magazine Mr Wilson-North explained that he was left in no doubt about the meaning of the earthworks, which lie in an abandoned garden a few hundred metres from the giant.
It is obvious he is a symbol of fertility. The Cerne Abbas Giant usually stands proud on a Dorset hillside overlooking the village from which he takes his name. But over the past 12 months he's been fading. So has it affected his legendary powers?
An 180ft ancient fertility symbol is getting a make-over to stop the white giant turning into the invisible man. The well-endowed Cerne Abbas Giant which lies on a Dorset hillside has become obscured by vegetation and moss after a wet summer. The situation has been worsened by a shortage of sheep farmers lending their flocks to the National Trust. The organisation usually borrows around 100 sheep for a few weeks in May and September to graze on the vegetation and keep the giant in shape.
The chalk outline of the Cerne Abbas giant has become almost totally obscured from view by thick vegetation, because there is a shortage of sheep to keep the hillside trim.
A clean-up of the vandalised Cerne Giant is going to be more difficult and costly than first thought, the National Trust admitted today. The night-time paint attack left the chalk figure's world famous genitalia purple.
"The paint is not a water-based one and is going to be difficult to remove. In the short-term it's been covered with a limewash to restore the colour but that won't last. Rain will wash it away before long. We are dismayed by this vandalism. There have been publicity stunts at the giant before but nothing like this where it's left an indelible mark. It's going to take time and manpower to remove it" - Alex Brennan, Trust spokesman
Pagans have pledged to perform "rain magic" to wash away Homer Simpson, the cartoon character, who was painted next to their famous fertility symbol, the Cerne Abbas giant, yesterday. Homer Simpson and Cerne Abbas giant: Pagans to use 'rain magic' on Homer The 17th century chalk outline of the naked, club-wielding giant is believed by many to be a symbol of ancient spirituality. Many couples also believe the 180ft giant, which is carved in the hillside above Cerne Abbas, Dorset, is an aid to fertility. A Homer Simpson brandishing a doughnut was painted next to the figure in a publicity stunt for a film company.