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Spitfire fight scene carved with a lawnmower in 10-acre field in amazing tribute to Battle of Britain bravery
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By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 4:52 PM on 9th July 2010
Tearing across a field in Cumbria - a British Spitfire pursues a German Messerschmitt 109.
This is the incredible tribute created in a farmer's field to help mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Using corn, Graham Wadsworth carved out a maze in a 10-acre field showing aerial dogfight between a giant Spitfire and an invading Messerschmitt 109.
Enlarge
Battle scene: The 10-acre maize maze depicting a giant British Spitfire, right, pursuing an invading German Messerschmitt 109 in Kendal, Cumbria
He created the maze in recognition of the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which began on July 10, 1940, when the feared German Luftwaffe launched a massive aerial bombing campaign across the UK.
His design - cut with a lawnmower and strimmer and planned using Global Positioning Satellite system - takes people on a course over three-and-half-miles.
Thousands of people lost their lives in towns and cities across the UK in the devastating bombardment.
The six-month campaign was finally brought to an end thanks to the courage and sacrifice of hundreds of RAF pilots.
More than 500 pilots lost their lives during the battle but they managed to destroy around 1,900 enemy aircraft killing almost 2,700 enemy aircrew.
Mr Wadsworth, 40, of Sedgwick, near Kendal in Cumbria, wanted to pay tribute to the bravery of the British crews who fought in the legendary battle.
He hopes the Maize Maze, which opens to the public at his farm on Thursday, will help teach a new generation about the sacrifices made all those years ago.
He said: 'The Battle of Britain happened before I was born but I think it’s important that it isn’t forgotten and that young people get the chance to learn about it in a fun environment.
'We get lots of young families and young people visiting the farm and we’ve got clues and quizzes for them to complete as they walk around the maze. If this sparks an interest in this period of our history, that would be great.'
As well as being able to walk around the Battle Of Britain maze, Mr Wadsworth will also be leading tractor rides to the highest point on the farm so that people can see the maize in all its glory.
Usually at this time of year, the corn maize should be knee high but due to the recent hot weather it is already at 5ft tall and growing.
This week in July, always signals the start of the working farm’s important diversification into tourism in the summer months.
To help sustain the Raines Hall Farm in business, it becomes the 'Lakeland Maize Maze' between now and October - attracting in the region of 20,000 visitors.
The maize design will stay until October when it has reached such a height that it has to be harvested and made into silage for a local dairy farmer to feed his cows over winter.
Read more: Spitfire fight scene carved with a lawnmower in 10-acre field in amazing tribute to Battle of Britain bravery | Mail Online
<SCRIPT src="http://scripts.dailymail.co.uk/js/diggthis.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 4:52 PM on 9th July 2010
Tearing across a field in Cumbria - a British Spitfire pursues a German Messerschmitt 109.
This is the incredible tribute created in a farmer's field to help mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Using corn, Graham Wadsworth carved out a maze in a 10-acre field showing aerial dogfight between a giant Spitfire and an invading Messerschmitt 109.
Enlarge
Battle scene: The 10-acre maize maze depicting a giant British Spitfire, right, pursuing an invading German Messerschmitt 109 in Kendal, CumbriaHe created the maze in recognition of the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which began on July 10, 1940, when the feared German Luftwaffe launched a massive aerial bombing campaign across the UK.
His design - cut with a lawnmower and strimmer and planned using Global Positioning Satellite system - takes people on a course over three-and-half-miles.
Thousands of people lost their lives in towns and cities across the UK in the devastating bombardment.
The six-month campaign was finally brought to an end thanks to the courage and sacrifice of hundreds of RAF pilots.
More than 500 pilots lost their lives during the battle but they managed to destroy around 1,900 enemy aircraft killing almost 2,700 enemy aircrew.
Mr Wadsworth, 40, of Sedgwick, near Kendal in Cumbria, wanted to pay tribute to the bravery of the British crews who fought in the legendary battle.
He hopes the Maize Maze, which opens to the public at his farm on Thursday, will help teach a new generation about the sacrifices made all those years ago.
He said: 'The Battle of Britain happened before I was born but I think it’s important that it isn’t forgotten and that young people get the chance to learn about it in a fun environment.
'We get lots of young families and young people visiting the farm and we’ve got clues and quizzes for them to complete as they walk around the maze. If this sparks an interest in this period of our history, that would be great.'
As well as being able to walk around the Battle Of Britain maze, Mr Wadsworth will also be leading tractor rides to the highest point on the farm so that people can see the maize in all its glory.
Usually at this time of year, the corn maize should be knee high but due to the recent hot weather it is already at 5ft tall and growing.
This week in July, always signals the start of the working farm’s important diversification into tourism in the summer months.
To help sustain the Raines Hall Farm in business, it becomes the 'Lakeland Maize Maze' between now and October - attracting in the region of 20,000 visitors.
The maize design will stay until October when it has reached such a height that it has to be harvested and made into silage for a local dairy farmer to feed his cows over winter.
Read more: Spitfire fight scene carved with a lawnmower in 10-acre field in amazing tribute to Battle of Britain bravery | Mail Online
