A FAMOUS attraction was “ruined” as tourists groaned over the monument with a huge penis being left in the “worst state ever”.
Tourists are in an uproar after the iconic Cerne Abbas giant, known for its huge appendage, became covered in grass, hiding its famous feature from view.
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The ancient chalk figure of a naked man, which has graced the Dorset countryside for centuries, is now barely visible.
The National Trust, which has maintained the site since the 1920s, blames an “unusually wet summer” for excessive growth that has disappointed visitors from across the UK.
Frustrated tourists flocking to see the 180-foot giant on the hillside have trouble making out the chalk outline through the thick grass.
Calls are mounting for the National Trust to reduce the giant to its former glory.
This week, in an effort to combat the unruly grass, a flock of sheep was released onto the protected hillside.
However, some visitors expressed their dismay, suggesting that this change came too late.
Helen Corben, said: “It is sad to see the ruin of the giant of Cerne Abbas today.”
Barry Howe, of Monmouth, said: “The worst I’ve ever seen and I’ve been past it many times. There’s no attraction there.”
Maureen Lock added: “It certainly needs regular maintenance to keep it looking good. After all, it is one of Dorset’s famous landmarks.”
One online user, Jackie Willis, took to social media with a cheeky suggestion: “It just needs a bit of cleaning.”
Local resident Lisa Eaton echoed the sentiment, telling The Sun: “It just needs tidying up.
“We saw him a few months ago and he didn’t look too bad, he probably just needs some weeding.”
Not everyone is upset, however.
Neil Croton, another local resident, said: “It’s just seasonal growth so I don’t see a problem.
“The site contains some flora and fauna of national importance, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. It has to be carefully managed for them, not just tourists and tourists.”
A National Trust spokesperson explained the complexities of keeping the giant: “Caring for the giant, its archeology and the Site of Special Scientific Interest that surrounds it is a complex task.
“The sheep were returned to the Giant to help reduce grass growth.
“After grazing, our small team of rangers will carry out annual maintenance – cleaning, weeding and edging the giant after grazing and ensuring this iconic landscape feature remains in great condition.”
They added: “This year, the exceptionally wet summer boosted grass growth and temporarily reduced the Giant’s visibility.
Part of conserving the giant means leaving it alone as much as possible.
The chalk is replaced every decade, a process that takes days of work by National Trust rangers and volunteers. The more the soil is disturbed, the faster the giant erodes.”
About the giant monument of Cerne Abbas
The Cerne Abbas Giant is a 55-metre (180 ft) hill figure near Cerne Abbas, Dorset, England, depicting a bald, naked man with a prominent erection and a large club.
Owned by the National Trust and listed as a scheduled monument, the figure is created from shallow trenches filled with chalk rubble. Its origins are unclear, with theories ranging from a Saxon deity to a Romano-British figure of Hercules.
The earliest record of the giant dates back to the late 17th century, but recent tests suggest it may have been created between 700 and 1110 AD.
Regardless of his exact age, the Cerne Abbas Giant is deeply rooted in local culture and folklore, often linked to fertility, and remains one of the most famous figures in the hills of England, alongside the Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex.
The giant was last re-marked in 2019 to celebrate 100 years of ownership of the landmark by the National Trust.
Despite this, the giant has faced disappearances before, such as during the Second World War, when it was covered in weeds to prevent the Luftwaffe from using it for navigation.
Adding fuel to the fire, a local cheese manufacturer recently caused controversy by presenting the Cerne Abbas giant on its packaging without its famous phallus.
The Oxford Cheese Company faced backlash for turning the world-famous chalk figure “non-binary” after censoring a supermarket label following a complaint.
Vic Irvine, of Cerne Abbas Brewery, said: “It’s clearly a binary giant that has a big phallus.
“It’s that simple. We love our giant here and to disfigure him like this is like throwing paint on Nelson’s Column. The whole thing makes me really angry, I’m incandescent with rage.”
Although the Oxford Cheese Company insists that the full number appears on most of its cheeses, locals remain outraged by any changes to their beloved landmark.
The company’s Paul Watson defended the decision, saying: “The original owner of the company chose this image because it is so memorable.”
With the giant of Cerne Abbas facing these controversies, it’s clear that this legendary figure still knows how to stir up a storm centuries later.
Meanwhile, it’s not just visitors to Dorset who are reporting poorly maintained sites.
A world heritage site in Kent has been branded “unkempt” and “neglected” by its residents.
Fed up residents claim their “paradise” has been ruined by drunk tourists and shame the “useless” municipality for not solving the problem.
Elsewhere, a communal row erupts in Somerset, with residents furious over the UK’s “iconic” volcano.
locals living near what they call the “iconic volcano” say it is about to be ruined by their clumsy advice.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
