The National Trust, Britain's heritage and nature conservation charity, said on Thursday that specialists had started work re-chalking the UK 's "largest and most iconic chalk hill figure," the Cerne Abbas Giant.

The roughly 55-meter (180-feet) tall chalk giant carved into a hillside overlooking Cerne Abbas in Dorset in southwest England is a standout figure of the landscape and renowned landmark, not least because it's such an anatomically faithful rendering of a naked and clearly excited club-wielding man.

The outline is prone to the elements, though, and requires regular renewal to prevent it from fading.

The famous erect penis was accidentally extended by almost a third during maintenance in 1908, when what used to be the belly button was mistakenly incorporated into the tip — but as author Peter Alan Ross put it, 'there have been no complaints' Image: Ben Birchall/empics/picture alliance

What is being done to make the Cerne Abbas Giant stand out again?

National Trust staff, volunteers and members…