Saffron Walden plans its first ever Maze Festival

Published: 8:30 AM March 18, 2011

Updated: 6:43 PM November 1, 2020

TO celebrate its unique maze heritage, Saffron Walden is planning its first ever Maze Festival later this year.

Saffron Walden is unique in having three distinctive mazes: the famous Common turf maze, the Victorian hedge maze in Bridge End Garden and Michael Ayrton’s Sun Maze sculpture at the Fry Art Gallery.

Now the organisers – Saffron Walden Initiative – are hoping that residents will create their own permanent or temporary mazes which will form part of a Saffron Walden’s Maze culture and could be on display during the festival, which will be held between August 20 and 28.

During the festival new mazes will be created around the town and there will be a wide array of maze-based events, challenges and entertainment for people of all ages.

Barbara Wilcox, from the organising team, who has created a mini-maze wall number plaque for her house, hopes that individuals, families, businesses and groups will be inspired to grow, paint, sculpt or build mazes in their homes and gardens.

“We want to create a record-breaking number of mazes around Saffron Walden and celebrate all things ‘maze’,” she said.

“Mazes can be created in many different mediums and styles and we know that Saffron Walden residents are an artistic and creative bunch and we really hope that people will rise to the challenge and make Saffron Walden the most A-Mazing place in Britain.”