A Maze-ing!

 

The Maze at Leed's Castle ("The Loveliest Castle") i Kent, Eng.

Hedge mazes were first gardens of decorative designs, edged with small hedges. Between the hedges was gravel, or flowers, or herbs, or grass.    It's a pleasant feeling to wander between the hedges. But as the hedges were made higher, it meant that you couldn't grow flowers or herbs any more. Finally, you have a full-size maze, where you can get lost (as I did).  Mazes are fun but can be very frustrating if you don't know where you're going, read on...

Leed's grounds are quite expansive and beautiful.

 The Greenhouses at Leed's

Hampton Court Palace Maze

My '73 Hampton Court photo and  Britain's oldest surviving hedge maze. 

The Hampton Hedge Maze

Britain's oldest surviving hedge maze is at the Hampton Court Palace. It is the oldest hedge maze in the world in continuous use, although there are descriptions of earlier hedge mazes and mazes which have been remade from old designs.  The maze was designed in 1690.  The maze was originally planted with hornbeam, but is now made of yew.

Longleat Maze

Longleat maze (above two photos)  is constructed of more than 16,000 English yews and is the longest (not largest) hedge maze in the world, covering 1.48 acres, and 1.69 miles of pathway.

Maze facts and patterns are available at http://gwydir.demon.co.uk