Shepherd & Sheepdog Maze

Cumbria's first maize maze opens its gates to the public on July 16 and a local company used a revolutionary system that ensured no-one would be lost in the puzzle whilst cutting it!

Derek Johnston from Precise Solutions, based near Wetheral, has used GPS (Global Positioning System) at Raines Hall Farm, Sedgwick, near Kendal, to transform its corn maize field into Lakeland's Maize Maze.

The GPS technology was employed to map out the top-secret design of the maize that can only be viewed from the air, before it was cut out over 20 hours with strimmers, to become a 5000m or 9 acre mind-boggling riddle of fun.

The maze design has been created by the world's leading maize maze designer, Adrian Fisher Ltd. This company has designed most of the 30 Maize Mazes that are currently open in the UK. This one will be Cumbria's first and be an all Lakeland Experience, with a theme that changes annually, but which always has a regional relevancy.

Both kids and adults alike will indulge in hours of fun, exploring the mind-boggling adventure that will await them once the maze is cut.  As well as solving the puzzle of getting out of the maze, they can also tackle a quiz, consisting of ten boards that are spilt between Quiz A, a test for adults and Quiz B, which promises to test the minds of children.

Four other mazes are to be found in the recreational area including a sheep maze, in addition to draught boards, pedal tractors, go karts, tabletop puzzles and much more. And if the excitement proves too much, there is a picnic area to relax and admire the rolling hills under the Cumbrian sunshine.

Graham and Jane Wadsworth, the owners of Raines Hall Farm, have been growing and selling maize successfully for six years. They are launching Lakeland Maize Maze with the assistance of the North West Farm Tourism Initiative, a programme that helps working farms diversify into tourist attractions.

Graham Wadsworth said: "We¹ve been dedicated to cutting the maize crop into something magical, in which children and adults can have hours of fun.

Derek Johnston was instrumental in this and we can¹t begin to thank him enough.

"The team at Adrian Fisher have done a wonderful job designing a maze that is special and unique to our region and we are excitedly anticipating the response on the faces of all the visitors we are expecting here, " he added.

From July 16 to September 4, the Lakeland Maize Maze will be open every day from 10.00am - 6.00 pm. After September 4, the maze will only be open at weekends until the close of season on September 30. Group bookings are available by prior arrangement from July 16 to 30 September.

For more information, log on to www.lakelandmaze.co.uk