The Council, who ran a maze designing competition for young people in the district, has chosen the lucky winners who will see their designs come to life in Ely Country Park.

The winning design for the main maze was submitted by fourteen-year-old Toby and features an intricate walk way with a podium marking the centre.

The junior maze, aimed at younger children, will be made up from the layout created by seven-year-old Jonathan with animal design features also incorporated following a great idea by four-year-old Astrid

Councillor Julia Huffer, Vice Chairman of the Operational Services Committee said: “We have been blown away with the amazing entries that we have received and it is extremely encouraging to see young people taking an interest in the actions from our Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

“We are incredibly excited to seeing these amazing designs from such creative young people in the district come to life.”

The mazes will be made up of hornbeam trees and planting is expected to commence in November.   

Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, Lord-Lieutenant, Her Majesty the Queen’s representative for Cambridgeshire, said “I am thrilled to hear that the next stage of this exciting project has been reached and I want to congratulate the lucky winners and thank all of those who took part.

“The tree mazes in Ely Country park will make a fantastic contribution to the Queen’s green Canopy which was launched across the country to honour the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

“I look forward to keeping up to date with this project as it progresses.”

The maze will open to the public in Spring 2022.

Following the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, the Council pledged to create an annual Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. The 2021/22 action plan can be found on the Council’s website: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/Agenda%20Item%208.pdf

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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The Council is looking for two creative plans from budding designers which will then be planted at Ely Country Park using hornbeam trees within the next planting season.

The two tree-based mazes will form part of the Council’s celebration of the Queen’s Green Canopy, as well as helping to combat climate change and boost local nature.

Guidance notes and an entry form which will allow young maze designers to draw their idea onto a plan, for either the main or junior maze, are available on the Council’s website.

The action forms part of the Council’s recently approved Environment Plan and is one of 20 actions that the Council will undertake in 2021/22.

Councillor Julia Huffer, climate change champion at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “As a Council, we are dedicated to doing as much as we can to tackle climate change and boost the natural environment and our action plan, including this competition, is part of that.

“It’s the perfect activity to get involved with over the summer holidays and I would encourage everyone who hasn’t entered yet, to get their creative hats on and submit their entry!”

The Council is accepting entries until 12pm on Wednesday 29th September.

More information about the competition can be found on the Council’s website here: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/design-real-tree-maze

Entries can be submitted to the Council office via post or by emailing climatechange@eastcambs.gov.uk.

Postal entries will need to be addressed to Richard Kay and sent to East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt lane, Ely, CB7 4EE.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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Guidance notes and an application form which will allow young maze designers to draw their idea onto a plan, for either the main or junior maze, are available from participating schools and the Council’s website. The competition launch comes after the Council’s Operational Services committee unanimously agreed to a new Environment Plan for 2021/2022.

The new mazes, which it is envisaged will be planted as part of the next planting schedule in winter 2021, makes up one of the twenty actions within the plan.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, chairman of the Operational Services Committee for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “As a Council, we are dedicated to doing everything we can to reduce carbon emissions and protecting the environment and the unanimous approval of our second Environment Plan is a testament to that.

“As part of our action plan, we have set ourselves 20 actions to achieve over the next 12 months and I am incredibly pleased to see that progress towards these goals has already begun.”

Councillor Julia Huffer, climate change champion at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Everyone has a part to play in reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment and giving young people the chance to get involved in these efforts is crucial.

“This is a great opportunity for young people across the district to get involved in a very exciting project and I would encourage everyone who is able to, to take part and submit their entry.”

“We look forward to seeing some of the creative ideas from young minds across the district.”

Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, Lord-Lieutenant, Her Majesty the Queen’s representative for Cambridgeshire, said “I’m delighted to hear of this maze project, and fully support the contribution it will make towards the Queen’s Green Canopy which was recently launched across the country to honour the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

“Throughout her reign, the Queen has been a passionate supporter of planting new trees and fully recognises the benefits trees bring to our environment.”

The Council is accepting entries until 12pm on Wednesday 15th September.

Entries can be submitted to the Council office via post or by emailing climatechange@eastcambs.gov.uk.

Postal entries will need to be addressed to Richard Kay and sent to East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt lane, Ely, CB7 4EE.

More information about the competition can be found on the Council’s website here: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/design-real-tree-maze

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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