Work starts on brightening up Osmington's White Horse

Dorset Council teams are on site this week

Published 9th Feb 2022

One of Dorset's well-known landmarks is getting a tidy-up this week.

Countryside rangers are at the Osmington White Horse.

They're defining the edge, clearing scrub and rebuilding retaining walls.

The figure is of King George III riding his horse and can be seen for miles around.

It was cut into the limestone of Osmington Hill just north of Weymouth in 1808.

Dorset Council had to offer reassurance last week that the famous hill chalk figure didn't need saving, after concerns it looked as if it was disappearing.

They said:

"The current state of the horse is a perennial issue which always rears its head this time of year when the ground is saturated, the chalk is dirty and light is poor. Adonis - all 85m of him - does appear to blend in with his surroundings and lose some shape and vibrancy but this is temporary."

The work programme has now resumed.

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: "Rest assured Adonis will be back to looking his best very soon."

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