Size does matter – National Trust launches appeal to help fund purchase and care of land around Cerne Abbas Giant

The charity is looking to raise £330,000 to help fund the purchase and care of, a 138‑hectare (340‑acre) site - equivalent to 190 football pitches - surrounding the famous Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset.

Thanks to generous grants and bequests, over £2 million has already been raised. Now, public support is being asked to help fund the purchase and care of the Giant’s lair, including Giant Hill, and the surrounding area for wildlife, heritage, and future generations.

The campaign, which launches today, is being supported by household names Sir Stephen Fry and Countryfile and Good Morning Britain presenter – and National Trust Ambassador - Sean Fletcher.

Sir Stephen Fry said: “This is a very rare opportunity to protect a huge swathe of beautiful and biodiverse countryside surround the Cerne Abbas Giant. Please join me in supporting this appeal.”

Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Giant Hill is already home to 36 butterfly species. Among its residents is the small, endangered Duke of Burgundy butterfly, a species found in England only and now clinging on at just six stronghold sites in Dorset, with numbers dwindling across the rest of the country. By joining up parcels of land around the Giant, the Trust hopes to create more of the specialist habitat it needs to survive and thrive, alongside other rare chalk grassland butterflies such as the Marsh Fritillary and Adonis Blue, and even the extraordinary Hazel Glove Fungus, which is typically only found in temperate rainforests.

Helping to purchase the whole swathe of this land will enable the Trust to restore and care for sections of chalk grassland, plant new woodland, and create a mosaic of habitats that support species under threat and help wildlife adapt to climate change.

Hannah Jefferson, General Manager for West Dorset & Cranborne Chase, 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 55‑metre 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. Research shows the Giant itself dates from the Early Medieval Period (770–1100 AD), while the surrounding landscape has been important to people for thousands of years, with evidence of human activity stretching back to 4300 BC. Since the National Trust began caring for the Giant in 1920, we’ve worked to protect its heritage and wildlife – and this appeal is the next step in that journey.”

Jenny Plackett, Butterfly Conservation’s South-West England Conservation Manager, added: “Following a long legacy of work with the current landowner to maintain the vitally important habitat at Cerne Abbas for rare butterflies, we will be delighted to see the Trust take this forward.

“Securing the future for these vulnerable species at this site will be a great achievement for nature.”

Michael Clarke, Area Ranger, added: “If we’re serious about tackling climate change and helping wildlife adapt, we need landscapes that are bigger, better connected, and more resilient.

“The Duke of Burgundy butterfly is a perfect example. It has very specific needs – thriving only in taller, moister grass and laying its eggs on certain plants. Its breeding conditions are so exacting that attempts can easily fail. That’s why it’s essential to give this butterfly space to expand into healthy, connected areas, reducing the risk of inbreeding and giving it a fighting chance to survive.

“By securing Giant Hill and the land surrounding it, we’re not just protecting one species – we’re creating a stronger, joined‑up countryside where many rare butterflies and other wildlife can flourish.”

As part of fundraising efforts, the charity has launched a Crowdfunder prize draw. Ten donors (plus one guest each) will win a money-can't-buy experience to be part of the giant’s re-chalking event in 2026. The first 500 entries into the prize draw will receive a limited edition ‘Cheeky Giant’ pin badge – an imagined rear view of the Giant – as a special thank you.

Donations can also be made online at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cerne-giant-appeal

The Trust hopes to raise the funds by the end of January 2026. Any donations received after 30 January, 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 increase access – in consultation with the local community – ensuring every gift makes a lasting difference.