By Nigel Gillies

THE famous Bulford Kiwi, which commemorates the presence in the area during the First World War of New Zealand soldiers, is receiving a major facelift this summer with the help of volunteers from the Bulford-based 3 (UK) Division, local Scouts, Wiltshire Army cadets and the Bulford Conservation Group.

In July 1916 camps were established for New Zealand soldiers recovering from wounds at Codford, while those fit for further duty were posted to Sling Camp at Bulford.

Sling Camp, on the site of the present Kiwi Barracks, became the centre for training all New Zealand reinforcements for France and Flanders. By November 1918 there were 4,329 New Zealanders based at Bulford.

To keep the men occupied before they returned home, a huge kiwi was cut into the hillside above Sling Camp. It is 420ft high with a 150ft beak with the adjoining letters "NZ" 65ft high. The actual cut of the Kiwi is distorted so that it seems correctly proportioned when viewed from the lower level of the barracks.

From 1980 the NATO-assigned 249 Signals Squadron maintained the Kiwi and since the squadron was disbanded in 2002 other locally based Royal Signals soldiers have continued to look after it.

In 1981 the New Zealand General Staff presented a carved model of a kiwi in recognition of the work carried out by the Bulford soldiers. Each year it goes to the winners of the Kiwi Trophy march and shoot competition.

"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," said Richard Osgood, MoD archaeologist with Defence Estates at Westdown Camp, Tilshead. and organiser of the clean-up.

The Kiwi is being cleaned by scraping off its grey gravel covering to expose the chalk below. A rabbit-proof fence will then surround the figure. "They are causing major damage," said Mr Osgood.

He said that not all the work on cleaning the Kiwi would be done by volunteers - it was far too big a job, so contractors Landmarc will undertake much of it.

"During the Second World War the cutting was deliberately covered over because it could be used by the Luftwaffe as a useful landmark and a guide to navigation," said Mr Osgood. It was uncovered after the war by the 1st Bulford Scout Troop.