MORE than 60 volunteers got on their hands and knees to rechalk one of Oxfordshire’s most popular landmarks.
About 40 people from the National Grid and 20 National Trust employees spent a day cleaning and rechalking the Vale’s White Horse.
The hillside figure, south of Uffington, dates back to the Bronze age.
During the Victorian era villagers from across The Vale would help to rechalk the horse every seven years.
But now the National Trust carries out the work, which requires a team of people to bash chalk into the outline with a hammer, at least once a year.
Ranger Andy Foley said: “You couldn’t do this with one person, because once you’d completed the whole thing areas that you initially rechalked would be discoloured and weathered.
“It is a tough job but you’re contributing to our nation’s heritage and you can see the effect you’ve had .”
National Grid employees working on electrifying the Great Western Railway in Didcot helped to prepare the ground and hammer in the chalk.
Project manager Matt Ray said: “We were very happy to support the National Trust as we know they have trouble getting large teams of people to complete this sort of work.”
To volunteer to help rechalk the White Horse during the course of the year visit nationaltrust.org.uk/white-horse-hill
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