Cutting the Glendurgan maze

Each year, a group of National Trust gardeners and volunteers spend a day cutting the hedges of the 185-year-old maze at Glenduragn in Cornwall. The video below shows how the team tackle the job and how this year’s team of 10 covered a combined distance of 100 kilometres over the course of the day!

The maze was planted in 1833 on one of the garden’s valley slopes by Alfred and Sarah Fox in order to amuse their 12 children. Cherry laurel was chosen due to its vigorous nature which allows it to withstand regular trimming and the extremes of the Cornish climate. The maze also has to withstand 90,000 visitors a year whose footsteps tramp around the roots. For additional texture, palm trees indicate the four quarters of the maze, while a thatched summerhouse marks the much sought after middle!

A four-year restoration project has started at Glendurgan this year with the aim of raising £80,000 towards a ‘hedge fund’ to save the maze and ensure its future for generations to come. There will be raffle ticket sales at the property but you can also donate via an online appeal page at nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan