20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR FOR SOUTHWOLD MAIZE MAZE AS DESIGN IS REVEALED
20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR FOR SOUTHWOLD MAIZE MAZE AS DESIGN IS REVEALED
Southwold Maize Maze has revealed its 2025 design as the business celebrates 20 years.
One of the first ever maize mazes to open in the region, Southwold Maize Maze has this year reached a significant milestone, celebrating 20 years of family fun for locals and holidaymakers alike.
20 years ago, back in the summer of 2005, Southwold Maize Maze welcomed visitors to its 400 acre site on the Suffolk Coast for the first time.
With a love for the area and the beautiful views across the Blyth Estuary, Bella and husband David, who runs a 1100 acre arable operation nearby, spotted an opportunity to diversify the farm business. Inspiration was taken from other successful maize mazes across the country, and with the perfect site for growing maize, as well as the stunning natural landscape, the rest is history.
In 2005 the attraction had a simple food truck in the play area next to the maze, but after the dairy herd was sold in 2016, the redundant farm buildings required another purpose.
In 2019, Old Hall Café – designed by Peter Wells Architects of Wickham Market – was added to the site in place of the old calf sheds, and is now a popular and thriving café and events space. The wider site, including a barn that used to house the farm’s dairy cows, hosts a number of markets and events throughout the year.
Now, reaching this significant milestone it seems only fitting that this year’s theme is ‘Celebrating 20 years of Southwold Maize!’
This year’s big maze is a marsh harrier design, reflecting the design of the first ever maze in 2005, and reinforcing the site’s link with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust over the years, along with its mission to feature elements of nature and education by choosing designs and themes from natural surroundings in the Suffolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Stamp points in the main maze will feature six of Bella’s favourite designs from over the years, from woolly mammoths, to bumble bees, and galleon ships.
This year’s mini maze design features a birthday cake with finger stamps to discover in each candle. Stickers and sticker cards were introduced in 2020 due to covid restrictions, but now, returning to its roots, finger stamps are back in the mini maze for smaller visitors to collect at each ‘checkpoint’.
Owner Bella Hall, is overjoyed to be celebrating the business’ 20th year, having ridden the challenging wave of tourism for a span of two decades.
“I am extremely proud to reach this milestone, having seen the maize maze and the site as a whole grow from its humble beginnings all those years ago,” she says.
“Each year we work so hard to create a unique design to ensure visitors still have a challenge on their hands, and we like to ensure there is an overriding message or theme; something to be learned.”
“We’ve also added new activities within the play area each year to keep it exciting, such as the zip lines, bouncy pillows, sand pits and, most recently, the Downpour Derby water play activity.
“There’s been some fantastic designs, including collaborations with local businesses and organisations. Working with maze design company Mazescape is a really fun, creative process!”
“We’re excited to celebrate with so many families this summer. Many have been visiting us for several years, some since the very beginning!” she adds.
This year’s maize was precision planted in mid-May, and the warm weather has provided good growing conditions, so the maize maze is on track to be tall enough and thick enough by the opening date.
Entry to the maize maze includes access to all facilities within the Play Park, plus the pedal go-kart track within the maze. This includes three jumping pillows, double zip line, ride on tractors, nest swing, climbing towers and slides, Downpour Derby water play, two giant sand pits and outdoor play kitchen and café.
Southwold Maize Maze will officially open for the summer season from 19th July, every day until 7th September.
For further information about the upcoming summer maize maze season and to book tickets: https://www.southwoldmaizemaze.co.uk/
