The experimental maintenance programme was a challenge for the conservation team due to the combination of loose chalk, gravity, the presence of grazing cattle and high of amounts of rainfall at the site.
The flat boards were positioned along the downhill edges of the badges in order to keep the chalk in position up the hill without detracting from the traditional construction of the World War One feature pieces.
The trial will help assess whether the chalk continues to move down the hillside; establish whether the boards stand out as an artificial aid once the chalk begins to discolour, as well as find out whether the fixing methods are adequate.
Scheduled for restoration by English Heritage as Ancient Monuments, the Fovant Badges were carved into the hillside by British and Australian soldiers undergoing training for the Great War.
The Fovant Badges Society aims to complete the restoration of all of the badges by 2016, prior to the centenary celebrations to mark 100 years since the carving of the first one.




