Difference between revisions of "The Maize Maze"
From Lacey Green History
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| − | 2003 saw | + | [[File:Maize Maze Advert 2004.jpg|thumb]] |
| + | Report by Caroline Egerton, nee West | ||
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| + | 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. 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! | ||
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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. | 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 | + | 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. |
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Revision as of 07:29, 17 July 2024
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. 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.