Volunteers have restored a massive hillside chalk lion near Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, using an unusual method: dancing and stomping the chalk into place.
The 147-metre-long lion, believed to be the largest hill figure in England, was refreshed with 1,100 tonnes of chalk. Around 60 volunteers helped stamp the new chalk, with some groups performing line dances or “lion dances” to compact their sections.
Sara Nicholas, volunteer advisor at the zoo, said the creative approach ensured the chalk was well-set. The figure, originally constructed over two years starting in 1931, was covered during World War Two to prevent enemy aircraft from using it as a navigation point.
Previous chalk refreshes took place in 2018, but the latest restoration coincides with the Zoological Society of London’s 200th anniversary. Volunteers also removed weeds as part of the project.
