The Bulford Kiwi Granted Protected Status

The Bulford Kiwi on Salisbury Plain is one of the UK's few physical reminders of New Zealand's contribution to the First World War.

Now, on the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of Messines, the New Zealander's key success on the Western Front, the carving has been scheduled as a protected monument.

The Bulford Kiwi is a 130-metre tall chalk carving of New Zealand's native Kiwi Bird.

It was carved here onto Beacon Hill on Salisbury Plain in 1919 to occupy New Zealand soldiers who lived here whilst waiting to return home after fighting in the First World War.

The idea came about after fed up soldiers looted the canteen.

The ringleaders were jailed but to keep the rest busy they were set to work. It took the soldiers two months, from February to March 1919, to complete the Bulford Kiwi. 

First, they cut the shape into the topsoil before adding extra chalk.

Now it's been granted protected status on the advice of Historic England.

In total 100,000 New Zealander's fought in the First World War representing almost 10 percent of the nation's entire population.

The timing of the monumental decision is significant. It coincides with the centenary of the end of the Battle of Messines

The Bulford Kiwi will now take its rightful place as the UK's latest scheduled monument - in commemoration of the 17,000 New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives in World War One.