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Badge reveals Cerne Abbas giant's cheeky side

Steve Harrisand
Ros Tappenden,South of England
National Trust Three pin badges on a white background. On the left is a green badge depicting the Cerne Abbas giant from behind - the naked hill figure is holding a club in his right hand and his left arm is outstretched. His round buttocks have a line around the top implying that they are shiny. The centre badge is round with the original naked Cerne giant in the centre. The pin on the right is of a yellow and black patterned butterfly.National Trust
The pin badges are being sold to raise money to buy land surrounding the giant

For decades, the chalk hill figure of the Cerne Abbas giant has been replicated on gifts and memorabilia – but a new pin badge is thought to be the first to reveal his "cheeky" side.

The National Trust, which owns the giant, is launching a set of three limited edition pin badges as it fundraises to buy the surrounding landscape in north Dorset.

Just 500 badges of each design are being produced, one of which depicts the giant from behind, revealing his bare bottom.

The pins are expected to go on sale at local shops and pubs next week, with proceeds going towards the appeal.

Dr Ian Dennis of Cerne Historical Society said: "He's been replicated on many things - tea towels, aprons, clocks, door knockers, weather vanes.

"I believe this is the first time we've had a picture of him from the rear-view mirror.

"There's only 500 of these badges so there's a collectors item quality to it."

National Trust / James Beck An aerial view of the Cerne Abbas giant chalk hill figure and the surrounding landscape of green rolling hills and hedgerows. Clouds dot the sky and are casting shadows on the ground in the distance.National Trust / James Beck
The National Trust is hoping to buy 139 hectares surrounding the giant that has been put up for sale

The trust launched a £330,000 appeal to help fund the purchase of 138 hectares (341 acres) surrounding the ancient naked figure after it was put up for sale.

It had already raised £2m and the appeal, launched on 3 December, has gathered nearly £83,000 of donations.

National Trust general manager for West Dorset Hannah Jefferson said the response had been "amazing".

"We are about 25% of the way there and we're not even a week in yet," she said.

"You can tell he's a well-loved figure and people are really keen to look after him.

"We have a limited edition cheeky badge to help with the appeal. We also have two other badges."

National Trust / Matthew Oates A close-up of a butterfly with yellow, orange and black markings on its open wings.National Trust / Matthew Oates
The Duke of Burgundy is one of 36 species of butterfly found on Giant Hill

Dr Dennis told BBC Radio Solent he was "quite delighted" the National Trust had stepped up to buy the land.

Speaking on the Dorset Breakfast show, he said: "The land has been privately owned for many years and any kind of change to that ownership leads to fears about inappropriate development.

"The idea of the National Trust being about to buy land around the giant and conserve it, to have it available to the public and conduct more ecological work is very welcome news."

The other badges depict the giant in his original pose and a Duke of Burgundy butterfly - one of the 36 species found on Giant Hill.

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