York Maze’s Giant Corn Puzzle Honors David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday

What Is York Maze?

York Maze is a super fun attraction (a place you visit for fun) located near a village called Elvington. It is a huge labyrinth (like a big confusing path game) cut right into a field of tall corn plants.

The Special Picture in the Corn

The design has been carved into the maze at the attraction. Staff who created the corn design said they made it to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, which was on May 8 this year.

Important Point: Sir David Attenborough is a very famous British nature TV presenter. Turning 100 is a huge milestone!

Alongside Sir David’s face, these animals were also etched (cut out as shapes) into the 15‑acre cornfield:

• An elephant
• A tiger
• A gorilla

(Images by Charley Atkins/SWNS show the maze and Sir David himself.)

How Big Is This Maze?

Let’s put it in kid‑friendly terms:

• The maze covers an area the size of eight Wembley football pitches (imagine eight giant soccer fields!).
• It is believed to be the biggest maze in Europe and one of the largest in the whole world.
• Creator and farmer Tom Pearcy cut out more than 5 km of pathways in his field.
• There are over one million corn plants growing there.

How Did They Build It? (Step‑by‑Step)

Building a giant picture you can only see from the sky is like a giant art project:

1. Plant the seeds: Over a million maize (that’s just another word for corn) seeds were planted in the 15‑acre field in April/May.
2. Let it grow: The corn grows tall, like a green jungle.
3. Cut the paths: Tom Pearcy carefully cut more than 5 km of little roads through the corn to form the shapes of David and the animals.
4. Add flowers: At one end of the field, they planted 2 acres of wildflowers (pretty natural flowers) for extra beauty.
5. Get ready for guests: About 130 team members help prepare the attraction to open.

What the Creator Says

Tom Pearcy shared some thoughts:

• “I grew up watching David Attenborough, he is an icon (a super important hero) of British broadcasting (TV shows) and I’m honoured to make my contribution to his 100th birthday celebrations.”
• He said the maze itself covers about the same area as 8 football pitches – so something like 10 acres of corn, plus 2 acres of wildflowers.
• They are “trying to lead into the Instagram generation” – that means they want people who love taking photos and sharing them online to enjoy it.
• The maze was planted in April/May and will last until September.

More Than Just a Walk in the Corn

The attraction opens to the public this Saturday. Once open, families can enjoy:

• More than 20 rides, shows, and attractions
• Lots of food and drink
• A big team of actors on site for entertainment
• A perfect summer’s day out for the family

Did David Attenborough Get an Invite?

Tom said he invited David to visit. David’s daughter replied personally:

• She said it was very kind to be invited.
• But David is naturally very busy, and because he is 100, the trip would be quite long.
• Tom said, “We are hoping he gets to see this.”

Last Year’s Theme

This Sir David theme follows York Maze’s Toy Story theme from last year, which celebrated 30 years of the much‑loved animated film.

Heads‑Up: The maze is only around for a limited time! It will be there until September, so don’t miss it.

Summary

York Maze near Elvington carved a massive corn maze shaped like David Attenborough’s face plus an elephant, tiger, and gorilla to celebrate his 100th birthday on May 8. The maze is as big as eight football fields, holds over a million plants, and opens this Saturday with rides, shows, food, and actors. Farmer Tom Pearcy and 130 staff built it, and they hope the famous broadcaster gets to see their amazing work.

FAQ

Q1: Who is Sir David Attenborough?
He is a beloved British broadcaster who has spent his life teaching people about animals and nature on TV. He turned 100 on May 8 this year.

Q2: How massive is the York Maze?
It spreads over 15 acres total (about 10 acres of corn maze plus 2 acres of wildflowers), equal to eight Wembley football pitches. It’s the biggest in Europe!

Q3: When can we go visit?
The attraction opens to the public this Saturday and stays open until September.

Q4: What animals are pictured in the corn?
Along with David’s face, there is an elephant, a tiger, and a gorilla etched into the field.

Q5: What else is there to do besides the maze?
You can enjoy over 20 rides, shows, and attractions, eat yummy food, drink, and meet actors – a full family day out.