Maize maze
Enjoy an outdoor adventure in a…
Are you looking for something exciting, fun and a little unusual to do with your family during the summer holidays? Take a trip to a maize maze and you’ll have a great time together as you search for a route to the centre and then (hopefully!) back out again.
A maize maze is a large pathway of puzzling twists and turns cut into a field of maize, a crop that can grow more than two metres tall. Maize includes varieties like sweetcorn (corn on the cob) or corn grown for feeding to animals. Visitors must find their way between the plants, choosing which path to take and trying to avoid routes that may lead to a dead end or take you the wrong way. You’ll often complete mini missions or treasure hunts, and be challenged to reach certain points. There might be extra fun features like bridges or tall towers made from straw or wood.
Maize mazes start to appear in fields and farms all over the UK, usually from early July to September. Each one will have a different layout and many have interesting themes, such as animals, nature or space. They are great to visit when the weather’s warm and sunny, but even if the ground is wet and muddy you can still go to a maize maze – just remember to wear your wellies.
Some maize mazes provide other outdoor activities to try during your visit too. You might find kart racing, climbing walls, playgrounds, giant wooden puzzles or farm tractor rides. Other mazes run special nighttime experiences by torchlight.
Isabel Hall has recently created Dove Fields Maize Maze on her farm in Sudbury, England. “We’re looking forward to welcoming families this summer as they hunt for clues,” Hall says. “We also have a bale tower, a mini play zone and lots of things to do. Mazes are a great day out in the open for families, full of fun and adventure.”