Army Help Restore Giant Bulford Kiwi

Cover Image: Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Up to 100 tonnes of chalk has been dropped by helicopter on to a giant carving of a kiwi.

The 130m-tall (420ft) Bulford Kiwi was carved into Beacon Hill on Salisbury Plain in 1919 by New Zealand soldiers stationed there waiting to return home.

Last June it was made a scheduled monument, which means it is recognised as a nationally important archaeological site and it is now protected from destruction or change.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has worked with partners Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc), the army, the New Zealand High Commission and local volunteers to restore the kiwi.

An RAF Chinook helicopter from 18 Squadron based at RAF Odiham was used to airlift in tonnes of chalk, which was raked out by soldiers from 3 (UK) Div Sig Regiment and other volunteers.

It is the first time in over 30 years the Bulford Kiwi, which symbolises a long standing partnership with the Royal Signals and New Zealand Army, has been re-chalked.

The DIO, which looks after the MOD estate, said the re-chalking would ensure it "remains visible for many years to come".

Richard Osgood, the DIO's senior archaeologist, said: "We've been really lucky, the RAF are using their training flights to get their Chinooks involved and moving some bags from the army basing programme on to the kiwi.

"Then a big team is moving that chalk around to make sure [the kiwi] is well covered and gleaming for future generations."