Difference between revisions of "The Maize Maze"
From Lacey Green History
| (37 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | 2003 saw | + | click [[Stocken Farm]] for The Maize Maze[[File:Maize Maze Advert 2004.jpg|thumb|This was the advert for 2004, the 2nd Maize Maze]] |
| + | Report by Caroline Egerton, nee West | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2003 saw our first Maze made in a crop of maize on [[Stocken Farm]]. It was opened to the public throughout the school summer holidays. | ||
'''Maize or Maze...? The background to this feature of our village''' | '''Maize or Maze...? The background to this feature of our village''' | ||
| − | + | Each year around 120 acres of maize is grown on [[Stocken Farm]]. It is foraged, chopped and stored in large clamps as silage for the 300 cows' winter feed. So, the fact is, that the maize grown at Stocken Farm is not solely for the enjoyment of visitors to Lacey Green Maize Maze each summer! | |
| − | + | The annual cycle means that each year we have the opportunity to create a new maze, and a brand new challenge for visitors. | |
| − | + | I Around Easter time, as you tuck into your Easter Eggs, the farm is busy preparing the ground and planting the maize seeds. To make the maize crop more dense for the maze puzzle, the field at [[Slad Lane]] is drilled (or planted) twice — once in each direction so they are not in straight rows. 60,000 seeds per acre are planted. | |
With the plants starting to grow, it is time to put the maze design into action. Each year an A4 piece of paper, covered with a 1cm square grid, is used to scale the design up to fill the field. 1cm square on the paper = 10m square on the ground. Firstly, using orange coloured bale twine, we peg out the grid 10m square all over the field. Then, using the plan, pegs and blue bale twine, we mark out the paths. Once we have all the paths marked, we then hoe out and remove any plants growing along the blue string lines. Sounds simple, which in essence it is. However, it takes hours and much head scratching - Standing in a muddy field, often windy and wet, we have found ourselves questioning our sanity! | With the plants starting to grow, it is time to put the maze design into action. Each year an A4 piece of paper, covered with a 1cm square grid, is used to scale the design up to fill the field. 1cm square on the paper = 10m square on the ground. Firstly, using orange coloured bale twine, we peg out the grid 10m square all over the field. Then, using the plan, pegs and blue bale twine, we mark out the paths. Once we have all the paths marked, we then hoe out and remove any plants growing along the blue string lines. Sounds simple, which in essence it is. However, it takes hours and much head scratching - Standing in a muddy field, often windy and wet, we have found ourselves questioning our sanity! | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2004.jpg|thumb|The 'Monster Maze. 2004. See plan below]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2003.jpg|left|thumb|The Windmill Maze 2003. See plan below.]] | ||
| + | As you can imagine, it is a special moment when we get to see the aerial photos. The giant design each year does seem to attract light aircraft and helicopters each summer. | ||
| − | + | The speed it grows is quite spectacular. From a seed at Easter to a target height over seven feet by September is pretty amazing. Maize plants do like warm conditions and water, particularly up to July. We will be opening as soon as the school is on summer holiday, by which time the maize is normally between four and five feet. | |
| − | + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2003.jpg|left|thumb|Plan of the Windmill Maze 2003]] | |
| − | + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2004.jpg|thumb|Plan of the 'Monster' Maze 2004]] | |
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze Tea Shop.jpg|center|thumb|The tea shop serving hatch with Max and Liz.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze Sand Pit.jpg|center|thumb|The sand pit]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2005.jpg|left|thumb|The Farmhouse Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2006.jpg|thumb|The Gigantic Galleon Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze Seating 02.jpg|center|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2005.jpg|left|thumb|Plan of the Farmhouse Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2006.jpg|thumb|The Plan of the Galleon Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze Seating 01.jpg|center|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Face Painting 03.jpg|center|thumb|Face painting]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2008.jpg|left|thumb|Plan of the Olympic Farm Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2007.jpg|thumb|Plan of the Great Brtish Challenge]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2008.jpg|left|thumb|The Olympic Farm Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2009.jpg|left|thumb|Plan of the Monumental Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2009.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|The Monumental Maze]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze 2007.jpg|center|thumb|The Great British Challenge. Plan on the Right.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze 2008.jpg|center|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze 2011b.jpg|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Face Painting 04.jpg|alt=/|center|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Lacey Green Maize Maze 2011a.jpg|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Harvesting 02.jpg|thumb|Maize harvesting]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Mound.jpg|thumb|The maize has been harvested. The mound was a lookout point in the middle.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Activities.jpg|center|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Crop.jpg|center|thumb|In the maize crop. This is not a path.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Maize Maze Map 2010.jpg|thumb|The Magical Mystery Maze. This was never to be. Maze had finished.]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:20, 22 October 2025
click Stocken Farm for The Maize Maze
Report by Caroline Egerton, nee West
2003 saw our first Maze made in a crop of maize on Stocken Farm. It was opened to the public throughout the school summer holidays.
Maize or Maze...? The background to this feature of our village
Each year around 120 acres of maize is grown on Stocken Farm. It is foraged, chopped and stored in large clamps as silage for the 300 cows' winter feed. So, the fact is, that the maize grown at Stocken Farm is not solely for the enjoyment of visitors to Lacey Green Maize Maze each summer!
The annual cycle means that each year we have the opportunity to create a new maze, and a brand new challenge for visitors.
I Around Easter time, as you tuck into your Easter Eggs, the farm is busy preparing the ground and planting the maize seeds. To make the maize crop more dense for the maze puzzle, the field at Slad Lane is drilled (or planted) twice — once in each direction so they are not in straight rows. 60,000 seeds per acre are planted.
With the plants starting to grow, it is time to put the maze design into action. Each year an A4 piece of paper, covered with a 1cm square grid, is used to scale the design up to fill the field. 1cm square on the paper = 10m square on the ground. Firstly, using orange coloured bale twine, we peg out the grid 10m square all over the field. Then, using the plan, pegs and blue bale twine, we mark out the paths. Once we have all the paths marked, we then hoe out and remove any plants growing along the blue string lines. Sounds simple, which in essence it is. However, it takes hours and much head scratching - Standing in a muddy field, often windy and wet, we have found ourselves questioning our sanity!
As you can imagine, it is a special moment when we get to see the aerial photos. The giant design each year does seem to attract light aircraft and helicopters each summer.
The speed it grows is quite spectacular. From a seed at Easter to a target height over seven feet by September is pretty amazing. Maize plants do like warm conditions and water, particularly up to July. We will be opening as soon as the school is on summer holiday, by which time the maize is normally between four and five feet.
