Every 5 years the Long Man of Wilmington is given a face lift, the grass is
cut around him and he is re-painted. The Long Man of Wilmington or
Wilmington Giant is a hill figure on the steep slopes of Windover Hill near
Wilmington, East Sussex, England. The Long Man is 235 feet (72 m) tall,
holds two "staves", and is designed to look in proportion when viewed from
below. In 1925, the site of the Long Man was given to the Sussex
Archaeological Trust (now the Sussex Archaeological Society) by the Duke of
Devonshire. During the Second World War it was painted green to avoid it
being used as a landmark by German aircraft. Early No one is quite sure how
old he is but is probably pre-roman although he has changed in shape over
the years. From afar the figure appears to have been carved from the
underlying chalk; but the modern figure is formed from white-painted breeze
blocks and lime mortar which was laid over the chalk in 1969. Volunteers can
sponsor bricks that make up the figure