Peace Maze Sets an Amazing Two World Records

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The Peace Maze in Castlewellan Forest Park, has been officially recognised, by Guinness World Records, as being both the largest and longest maze in the world.

Achievement of these records was celebrated today by Forest Service staff and children from two local primary schools, who marked the occasion by releasing 300 dove shaped balloons from the centre of the maze.

District Forest Officer, John Watson, explained: “We started planning this project in 1998. The concept was to commemorate peace and reconciliation with a significant landscape project for the people of Northern Ireland and its visitors to enjoy. Numerous hedge mazes have been built around the world and we are delighted to have received acknowledgement of the new world records for the Castlewellan Peace Maze here today. These are great recognition of the role many people played in the development of the Peace Maze. There were unprecedented levels of pupil participation, where over 4,000 school children submitted designs for the maze and 1,000 people attended community planting days.”

Forest Service Maze Manager, Michael Lear, said: “The maze covers nearly three acres and has over two miles of pathway and the hedges within it consist of 6,000 Yew trees. It is 21% larger and 29% longer than the previous record-holders. The maze was constructed as a peace and reconciliation inspired project and is named ‘Peace Maze’ to underline this.”

Michael continued: “The maze is designed in two halves, with a divide that must be crossed to solve the maze puzzle. The paths are slightly wider than normal and the hedges low enough to encourage interaction and communication between users. The hedges have developed well in the past three years and will become more impressive as they are clipped and formed over the next 10 years.”

He concluded: “Our visitor figures have exceeded expectations and show how popular the attraction is with the public. We had 20,000 visitors in May alone.”

Visits to the Peace Maze are becoming increasingly popular, with both local schools and others from all over Northern Ireland. Anthony King, Principal of St. Malachy’s Primary School, Castlewellan, explained: “The Peace Maze is a tremendous facility, with a fantastic setting and we visit it often. These visits are thoroughly enjoyed by both the children and their teachers.”

1. The Peace Maze at Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down, is managed by the Forest Service, an Agency of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. The cost of the project was around £570,000, 75% of which was funded by the European Union Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the remainder being funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Down District Council.

3. The idea for the project was conceived by Beverley Lear, Lear Associates, coincidentally on the same day as the Good Friday Agreement was signed (10 April 1998). Beverley, who is an anthropologist and landscape designer, used the best ideas from the childrens’ designs and formulated the final design layout.

4. The solution to the maze is marked by a bell in the centre, which was previously located at Parkanaur Forest, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone and has probably become the most frequently rung bell in Ireland, with over half a million rings per year.

5. The Peace Maze was officially opened by former Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, Bríd Rogers, on 12 September 2001.

6. This is one of Northern Ireland’s fastest growing tourist attractions – to date 240,000 visits have been made to the maze.

7. The web site for the Peace Maze is www.peacemaze.com

8. Interview and filming opportunities are available on request.

9. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.