Most of Maze Reduced in Height

The team of gardeners working on the hedge were: (Left to right) Charles Courtney, Lee Barker, Rob Mcleod, Nathan Doe, and Steven Gates. Credit: Richard Strong.

Over six days the Garden team at Bridge End Garden has reduced the height of over half of the 600m long yew hedge Maze, as part of a programme of sensitive restoration.  

Said Senior Gardener, Nathan Doe, ‘It took 33 person days to cut the hedges: cutting, removing the clippings along the endless Maze paths and then chipping, feeding and spreading mulch.  I am very proud of my team who worked very hard to get the work done before the start of the bird nesting season.’ 

Rob Mcleod, the Garden Doctor who is a hedge specialist, provided training for the first two days.  The hedges have become very high and wide, reducing path widths and this is the start of a 10 year programme to rejuvenate the hedges. 

The outer and inner hedges have been retained at their existing height and these will be cut next February. 

Nathan said they had decided to open the Maze earlier than Easter and you can now see the work for yourself as the Maze reopened to the public at the end of March.

'Please treat the hedges with respect’ asked Nathan. ‘The hedges need to regrow so please don’t barge through gaps and keep to the path’.