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One of Wiltshire's most enduring and familiar sights is to receive a
major facelift this summer by volunteers from the Bulford based 3 (UK) Signals
Division and the New Zealand High Commission, who will be joined by local scouts,
Wiltshire Army cadets and the Bulford Conservation Group.
The landmark is the Bulford Kiwi, a massive chalk figure which overlooks
the Bulford Army Camp on Salisbury Plain. Unlike many of southern England's
chalk hill figures featuring horses and even naked men, some dating back to
antiquity, the Bulford Kiwi is less than 100 years old but still has great
historical significance.
"The Kiwi was the handiwork of the New Zealand Army and was cut in 1919
to commemorate their presence at nearby but now long-gone Sling Camp, Bulford,
where they had been based since June 1916," explained Richard Osgood from
Defence Estates and organiser of the clean-up. "Its cutting also commemorates their
losses in the Great War.
"The figures' upkeep has been handled by various groups over the years,
even at one time by the Kiwi boot polish company. Now it has passed to Defence
Estates."
The bird will be cleaned by scraping its grey gravel covering off to
expose the chalk below. The figure will then be surrounded by a rabbit-proof
fence. "They are causing major damage," said Mr Osgood.
He said that not all the figure will be cleaned by volunteers - it is
too big, measuring 420 feet high with the bill being 150 feet long and the
initials NZ being 65 feet long. And so much will be undertaken by contractors.
The Kiwi was designed by Sergeant Major Percy Blenkarne of the Education
Staff at the end of the Great War and it is reckoned the best place to see it
is about 1.6km away.
"During the Second World War the cutting
was deliberately covered over, "said Richard Osgood. "It was because it could be used by the
Luftwaffe as a useful landmark and a guide to navigation. It was uncovered
after the war by the 1st Bulford Scout Troop.
Other memories of the now long
departed New Zealand
soldiers remain and include the Kiwi pub and Kiwi Barracks at Bulford.
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