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National Trust Launches Appeal to Buy 138 Hectares Around Cerne Abbas Giant

Donations will fund chalk grassland restoration to support rare butterflies.

Overview

  • The charity seeks £330,000 by the end of January 2026 to secure and care for the site known as Giant’s Lair.
  • More than £2 million has already been secured through grants and bequests toward the acquisition.
  • The SSSI landscape hosts 36 butterfly species, including the endangered Duke of Burgundy, with plans for new woodland and habitat creation.
  • A Crowdfunder prize draw offers ten donors a place at the 2026 re-chalking of the Giant, with the first 500 entries receiving a limited-edition pin badge.
  • The Trust plans to continue the current landowner’s conservation partnership with Butterfly Conservation, with public endorsements from Sir Stephen Fry and presenter Sean Fletcher.