Amazing maze of maize
Barton Rural School committee member Janelle Brickle plays hide-and-seek with children in the maize maze on George Steven’s farm on Fairview Rd. People can visit this week and try to find their way through it. The entry fee will go to the school as a fundraiser.
A maize field will help Barton Rural School raise money after its major fundraiser was cancelled last year because of Covid-19.
People will have the chance to get lost in a 500sqm maze of maize, on Fairview Rd, from today to Saturday in a paddock opened by farmer, and school parent, George Steven.
Barton Rural School home and school committee member Janelle Brickle said the idea for The A’maize’n Maze came about after it had to cancel its annual Spring Fair in September.
That followed the country-wide (excluding Auckland) shift back to Covid-19 alert level 2.
‘‘A farmer, George Steven, whose kids go to the school, came to us out of the blue with the idea of a maze for people to get lost in,’’ Brickle said.
‘‘We were just stoked with the offer, we’ve never tried anything like this before.’’
She said about 30 parents of pupils at the school will be helping out at the maze over the week.
‘‘It’s quite exciting.’’
Brickle said it was an opportunity for the whole family to get involved.
‘‘We tried it with some pupils earlier in the week and it took them about 40 minutes to get out of it, so it is quite challenging,’’ she said.
‘‘We will also do an evening where parents will dress up in scary costumes. That’s going to be fun.’’
The maze will be open January 25-29 from 3-6pm, January 30 from 1-4pm, with scare nights on January 29 and 30, from 8.30pm-9.30pm.
She said proceeds from the event will go towards projects such as revamping the school playground.
Entrance to the maze, just past 633 Fairview Rd, west of Timaru, is $10 per family, $5 general and $2 per child, aged 15 and under.
Covered footwear is required and cash only entrance.