The Bulford Chalk Kiwi
One of our must-sees was the Bulford Kiwi in Wiltshire, not far from Stonehenge.
But try as I might, both online and locally, there was a lack of information about how to get to the kiwi.
With the help of Google maps I came up with a plan of attack. Hopefully the information in this post will be useful to others also wanting to find the kiwi.
About the kiwi:
The Bulford Kiwi is a huge kiwi bird designed with white chalk into Beacon Hill above Bulford Military Camp.
It was built in 1919 by New Zealand soldiers who were waiting to come home after the end of World War One. They were based in Sling Camp, an annex to Bulford Camp. While they awaited repatriation, the troops got restless – and a bit disorderly. The kiwi was devised as a project to occupy them constructively.
Sling Camp was big, being home to over 4000 NZ troops. It was pulled down in the 1920s but the kiwi was left. This is a great photo of Sling Camp and kiwi back in the day.
Interestingly, during World War Two the kiwi was disguised to avoid it being used as a navigation marker. In the late 1940s a local scout group began a project to uncover the kiwi which actually resulted in them having to re-cut it out of the hill. How fantastic that they did this.
For the last few years, the Ministry of Defence has taken responsibility for maintaining the kiwi.
My genealogist mother first thought there had been a family connection with Sling Camp, but further research discounted this. Never mind, it didn’t diminish the desire to see this historical Kiwi landmark such a long way from home.
Bulford Camp retains the odd reminder of its NZ connection
The kiwi is visible on Google Maps satellite view – search for Gallipoli Rd in Bulford Camp; the kiwi is to the right and down a bit.
For a close encounter with the kiwi:
Bulford Camp is separate to but near the town of Bulford. Set your satnav for the intersection of Gaza Rd and The Crescent.
We found a parking space there just off the road. From that point Gaza Rd becomes a path through the woods, and to get to the kiwi it’s maybe a 15-20 minute walk.
Note that some of the roads on the map are more like paths and cannot take vehicles, including half of Gaza Rd and all of Gallipoli Rd. I have since wondered if they date back to the days of Sling Camp and were no longer required when the camp was disestablished.
We were unsure whether we could or should use the trail. But we had come too far and were prepared to take the risk. Later on when mum asked the person serving in the local post office, he said that unless there are signs expressly forbidding public entry, it is ok.
This seemed to be where the path started so we left the car and ventured into the woods
One of mum’s pics – dad on an especially nice section of path through the woods.
You can either follow the woods path in a straight line and pop out at the base of Beacon Hill, or venture through an opening to the left.
Popping out of the woods, you join this track to the end of this straight before trekking up the hill
Beacon Hill isn’t a mountain by any means but does have a decent gradient so reasonable footwear is a must. It’s also pretty rough…
The hillside was littered with diggings – moles maybe?
Once you start up the hill, veer over to the right and there, finally, should be the bottom of the kiwi. That was a pretty exciting moment.
Kiwi feet!
It was designed to be seen from a distance and at this proximity you simply cannot see it in its entirety. Further down this page are directions to a viewing spot further away.
Kiwi legs!
“NZ” – to give you an idea of scale, these letters are 20m long
Kiwi beak!
The kiwi is fenced off but you can get beyond the fence in a civilised manner when you get to the top.
Once you’ve trekked up the hill you can access the site through this gate
Plaque inside the kiwi enclosure
View from Beacon Hill. Sling Camp had been located on the ground below
So happy to have succeeded!
From up here I scanned the horizon for a road that could give us a good front-on view of the kiwi. With a bit of an idea in mind, we returned to the car back the way we came.
A good place to view the kiwi:
Set the satnav for the corner (if possible) of Bulford Droveway and Sheepbridge Road. This is a little way out of town. Pull off into the large dirt layby area. One of the dirt military roads leading off from here is almost straight ahead from Sheepbridge Rd, up a slight incline. Head up here; mind the ruts and holes!
We drove up this military road – there were no signs screaming that we couldn’t – to get a great view looking back to the kiwi
And up the rise on the flat, you can indeed see the kiwi.
It was the perfect road to get a view back to the kiwi
The end of a successful mission – I was very happy.
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Update March 2015: Adding a link to an excellent article this week about the kiwi’s history.
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Update June 2016: One of the commenters below has passed on the useful suggestion for anyone wanting to get up close with the kiwi who may have to contend with walking difficulties of parking just off Tidworth Rd past Firing Range 1, as the hill gradient from there is much more gentle. Thanks Mr Apperley!
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Update June 2017: The kiwi has now been given protected status and a book on the kiwi is coming out soon by Colleen Brown who has previously commented on this post. Update Feb 2018: Colleen’s book is due out in April. She has set up a Facebook group called ‘The Bulford Kiwi – The Kiwi We Left Behind‘ and would love for interested people to join!
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Update July 2017: There are now ‘official directions’ published on the fabulous Ngā Tapuwae Trails website, directing people to a track off Tidworth Rd.
tall tales 
You might be interested to know there is a ‘Kiwi Primary School’ in Bulford. Also there is another collection of military chalk badges not far away at Fovant: http://www.fovantbadges.com/index.htm
Good to know – thank you. I like the kiwi symbols on their website, and I hadn’t heard of those badges, unfortunately, as otherwise we would’ve tried to fit in a drive by.
that was a really interesting link to the wiltshire kiwi! great directions. i’ve lived in wilts and only now heard about this kiwi!!
I’m really pleased that this is useful to locals then as well as travelling Kiwis! Thanks for leaving the comment.
Hayley your pictures (excellent) and directions were SO helpful. We (on a similar mission to you of experiencing the environs of someone who was in Sling Camp in 1917) also climbed up to the Kiwi and it was such a good thing to do. Not as good weather as you but got some shots when the rain abated. Thanks again! Penny.
You’ve made my day with that feedback Penny, I’m so pleased it was useful. thank you
Hi Hayley,
Thanks for the info on the viewling location – perfect. We had been to the actual Kiwi previously for a picnic, but had trouble finding a good viewing location. Took a fellow NZ’er there on our 110km ANZAC day ride yesterday, he loved it.
Mike
Rapt to hear that! Great idea for an Anzac outing. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment.
Excellent, nothing beats first-hand photos and coverage of the events.
What a wonderful, whimsical thing! Thanks for posting about this site!
Very well detailed story. I live in the village of bulford and is a great place as for the kiwi overlooking the spectacular view of the salisbury plain
Hi Darren, thank you. I’m really glad to have visited the Bulford area and been able to find the kiwi. Such a great piece of history to have on your doorstep.
Hi Hayley, I’m so glad I found your blog post about the Bulford Kiwi! I’ve been living on the south coast of England, one and a half hours drive away from the Kiwi for the past 23 years and I didn’t even know it existed!
My husband Stuart (a Brit) and I went to see it yesterday following your fantastic directions and photos. It was a great day and I even got a little emotional!
I put some photos on facebook and they’ve created quite a bit of interest. I also told a fellow Kiwi who lives around here and showed him my photos and gave him the link to this blog post. I’m sure he’ll make it there sometime soon too. Here’s the link to my photo album if you’re interested, they’re pretty similar to yours though!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152364298898522.1073741831.532448521&type=1&l=30f71c9e9c
Such a shame there isn’t a better place to view it from.
Anyway, thanks again!
Megan
Quirky Kiwi
Hi Megan
That’s fantastic! I’m very happy you found the information useful. It’s pretty hard case that you live reasonably close by!
Your FB album is great and I love that you’ve elevated a couple to be your profile and cover photos for a while 🙂
Thanks so much for returning here to leave the comment.
regards
Hayley
Hi Hayley,
Glad you like my photos! And of course I just had to tell you how useful your instructions were, you have to give credit where credit is due! 😀
Megan
Awesome post. Love the pics and directions.
Thanks very much Joe.
Thanks for the detailed in instructions on how to get to the kiwi – I’m heading over in September and it is part of my WWI pilgrimage to visit Bulford in memory of my Great Uncles who trained at Sling before they were sent to France. My grandfather was at Ewshot so it’s going to be quite a trip 🙂
Hi Anne, that sounds like a fantastic trip, you will enjoy connecting with those important places in your family history. Thanks very much for leaving a comment. I hope you find the kiwi without any problems – if once you’ve been there you think of a way to improve these directions, let me know and I can update the page.
Sling Camp (Bulford) kiwi: designed by my grandfather, Percy Cecil Blenkarne. He studied a kiwi displayed in a museum to get the correct dimensions. Cherished piece of family history.
Steve Blenkarne
Hi Steve – how fantastic! As proud of him as you all must be, he would surely be pretty chuffed that it’s still going strong today.
Hi Steve – I’m a NZ researcher doing some work on the Kiwi and about to visit the site. You must all be very proud of your grandfather’s work -it was quite a challenge. I’d like to talk to you more about your grandfather if possible.
Hi Colleen – I have emailed Steve to pass on your message and contact details. All the best for your trip!
It was one of my old units that looked after the Kiwi and in honour of all the fallen Kiwis and what they did in the wars our unit used to hold an annual event across Salisbury Plain (The Kiwi Trophy) which was basically a military tab (moving across the plain with your kit on as fast as possible). The New Zealand High Commissioner would attend the spectacle and after the event a few ales would be raised to your fellow countrymen of days gone by……
Thanks so much for that information snippet! Really interesting. It looks like the Kiwi Trophy competition is still very much an annual event.
Hi Danny – you may be interested in the comment below from Stephen Fielding!
Hayley, have just read your article about finding “The Kiwi”. Great! We visited here back in 1977 on our OE. My Dad had worked on the kiwi’s toe when he was in Sling Camp waiting to get a ship back home.We are going back to the UK in October for the Rugby World Cup & plan to visit the Kiwi again on our way back to London from Wales. Thanks for all your directions to get there & for viewing point as is a long time ago since we were there.
Hi Dot, great to get your comment and how fantastic to have a family link to the Kiwi. All the best for your trip (I hope the directions work for you) – I’m jealous! 🙂
Hi Hayley – I’d like to get i touch with Dot about the Kiwi – my book is progressing well – I’ve discovered lots of new information which is pretty exciting. Can you please give my details to Dot and hopefully I’ll be able to get more information about the construction of the Kiwi from her. Thanks for your blog – really great reading. Best regards
Colleen
Hi Colleen, glad the book is coming along! Please come back and let me know when you’ve reached that publishing milestone. I have emailed Dot to pass along your comment and email address.
Have you ever thought about re-posting this one?
Hi GP – no I haven’t so thanks for the suggestion, will keep it in mind especially with it being the WWI centenary.
Thank you for your excellent directions on how to see the Kiwi bird at Bulford. With those we were able to see the Kiwi beautifully from the military off- road you clearly identified. Whilst there, we met a local lady jogger who suggested we parked just off the Tidworth road past the Firing Range 1 to walk up to the Kiwi as it is a gently ramble and not too steep a hill, compared to the route you took through the woods. I only mention this for those with walking difficulties. Without your directions we would not have seen the Kiwi so well.
That’s great feedback, thanks very much for taking the trouble to leave a comment. I’ve added the Tidworth Rd suggestion to the bottom of the post as I’m sure it will be helpful to others. I’m glad you had a good visit with the Kiwi!
Hayley, Danny is being a tad on the modest side, in his account to you, while serving as the officer commanding of 249 signal squadron AMF(L) in the Army at Bulford around 1980 he rediscovered the Kiwi while out running on the hill, the story goes by falling into one of the legs, on his return to Bulford camp in looked into the history of the camp, to try and discover what he had fallen into because he had recognised it as man made and discovered the history of the Kiwi. He then set about trying to get it back to it’s former glory contacting the New Zealand high commissioner informing them of it’s sorry state, they thanked him saying they would look into restoring the Kiwi, sometime later they informed him the cost was prohibitive, Danny then contacted Kiwi boot polish asking for any aid they could give as the prefered provider of boot polish to the British Army, they responded with a very sorry no.
To say that Danny is a very tenacious character is a bit of an understatement, we of the Squadron were due to go on exercise our vehicles travelling out by ship a week before us, he then called a squadron parade and informed us that we had 5 days to cut back the undergrowth of many years redefine the outline of the Kiwi and then re chalking it from the chalk pit beneath it.
The weather was very warm and sunny and the work back breaking but we were spurred on by the promise of the Friday, Saturday and Sunday off if we completed it by Danny, on the Thursday Danny and the rest of the officers knew we would fall a bit short and contacted chalk provider, some 4 ton trucks were stripped down and sent to pick the chalk up and then driven onto the Kiwi to have their loads shovelled onto the kiwi, a bit of a shock set in then as it was noticed that this chalk had a pink tinge to it compared to the chalk pit at the base of the Kiwi’s pit, this was quickly made right by a very thin film of the Kiwis chalk pit being spread over the top of it.
Danny is still very involved in the care and upkeep of the Kiwi all these years later, in fact there are pictures of him and a few of the old boys working hand in hand with the present soldiers of Bulford camp this last couple of days, I have heard a rumour that the Kiwi is to be made a national monument or some such in the near future, which means it will never be forgotten or left in disrepair again due mainly to a very tenacious man stumbling on a run, hope this gives you a bit more information on this fantastic memorial to your famous soldiers
Steve
Hi Steve, thank you for taking the time to leave those details, it adds such interesting context to the Kiwi which if not for Danny’s persistence may have been lost forever. This is probably the most visited page of my blog so there’s huge interest in people going to see it – all thanks to him! Best wishes, Hayley
Hi Steve – I am writing a book about the Kiwi’s history. I was going to leave it at 1919 when the men sailed home but the history of the Kiwi – and might I say the relationship with our own NZ government begged for a more complete story being told. so I tracked Danny down and I am travelling back to the UK in November to interview Danny and others in the British Army involved with the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the Kiwi. As you say – we New Zealanders owe a huge debt to people like Danny – who has never told me about falling into the leg – for without him and others who followed, the Kiwi would have been lost for all time. Danny is very modest – so it would be great to get the full version from your point of view as well. I’ll be in the area when the Bulford Challenge is taking place. Thanks for your post – Colleen
This is brilliant! In June 2015 I parked halfway up the hill – turn in from firing range gate – and walked up to the track. We met some walkers (or is that amblers?) who took a pic of us at the cairn / plaque.
My interest is directly in the camp and its life as too much is written about the conflicts as it is, and forgets about the life of the soldiers, transport, the passage, the accommodation between leaving home & departing for home. My grandfather was part of that system.
Barry P. Christchurch.
Lovely to hear from you Barry. So you visited Bulford Camp bang on two years ago, that must have been quite an experience given your family connection. I know how chuffed I was to see the kiwi from just being a Kiwi! This is my most visited blog post so that tip about being able to park half-way up the hill will probably be useful to a future reader, so thank you for that. Hayley
Hi Hayley
Your description of visiting the Bulford kiwi is great! You and your readers might be interested in the Ngā Tapuwae First World War Trails which includes the kiwi as a stop and gives some history of Sling camp (https://ngatapuwae.govt.nz/sling-camp). It also has directions on how to get there, going for the walk up from Tidworth Road.
Cheers
Denise
Thanks so much for that Denise, I’ve left a footnote on the post with a link to those alternative directions.
Just wanted to thank you for the info on the Bulford Kiwi without it we would never have found it. We followed your tracks and got to the Kiwi and also the distance view. Liz Levett July 2017
Really happy to hear that!!
Hey Hayley,
Thanks for your great blog, i am originally from Nelson and was living in the UK for a long time, i stumbled across a mention of the kiwi while looking for chalk figure hikes in the area, i visited and was inspired to create the first listing in wikipedia back in 2007 to try and spread awareness of what i think is a really important part of NZs history.
I will add your blog into the wikipedia page to help increase traffic.
I have found some photos and postcards of the camp that really add to the backstory, and i am really looking forward to reading the book when it is published.
Please keep up the good work.
Greg (now in Singapore).
Always good to connect with others who are interested in the kiwi which I agree is a unique and important part of our history. Your photo collection sounds great – that postcard (if that’s one you found) on the wiki page is fantastic and I think is appreciated more after visiting the site. Thanks very much for leaving your comment and adding the link!
Hi Hayley
The book about the Bulford Kiwi will be out this April. Iâve created a FB page for it â called â The Bulford Kiwi. The Kiwi We Left Behind.
It would be wonderful if you could encourage your blog followers to join up â and of course yourself.
Kind regards
Colleen Brown
Hi Colleen, excellent – I’ve joined up and have added a note to the end of the post. Congratulations, I’m looking forward to the release!