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Girlguiding UK’sCentenary MazeAn amazing journey

Girlguiding UK’s Centenary Maze atCrystal Palace Park originally datesfrom around 1870 and is one of thelargest in the UK. The maze wasbuilt on artificially-raised landknown as the North Mound andwas part of the design for thepark suggested by Sir JosephPaxton and carried out byEdward Milner, a landscapegardener. In their heyday,mazes were popularplaces to stroll after tea –hence this maze wassometimes known asa tea maze. Despitebeing replanted in1987 by the LondonBorough of Bromley,the maze fell intodisrepair untilGirlguiding UKexpressed aninterest in it.Girlguiding UK isthe UK’s foremostorganisation for girlsand women of allages. It was here inCrystal Palace Parkduring a Boy Scoutrally in 1909 that asmall group of pioneeringgirls approached its founderRobert Baden-Powell to demand‘something for the girls’ as well thatwould provide fun, adventure andnew experiences. Robert Baden-Powell was persuaded and theguiding Movement was born.

The Girl Guides Association waslaunched in 1910 with 6,000girls registering immediately.From such humble beginningsGirlguiding UK grew intothe largest voluntaryorganisation for girlsand young womenin the UK.Today, over half amillion membersmeet regularly ina unique girl-onlyspace to havefun and exploretheir potential.Spreading aroundthe world thereare now also tenmillion girls andwomen involvedin guiding in145 countries.Girls in guidingtoday come froma rich mix of backgrounds,faith andnationalities to takepart regularly in a girl-ledprogramme of challengingactivities relevant to them.To mark 100 years of guiding,Girlguiding UK and the LondonBorough of Bromley have createda permanent celebration of thepioneering spirit of the girls in 1909 byrestoring the maze and its setting andcommissioning the artwork set within.

The roundelsSnowdropsSnowdrops areknown as the signof spring coming.Guide Patrol emblem1918 to 2000.DaffodilLabyrinth or maze?A maze is an outdoor networkof paths and hedges shapedlike a puzzle. A labyrinth onthe other hand, is a continuouspath with no dead ends anda centre goal.The daffodil is the national flower ofWales and a symbol of hope. Guide Patrolemblem 1910 to present day.Walk like an EgyptianThe oldest labyrinths are fromthe fifth century BC, in Egypt,inside the pyramids!RoseThe first Brownies wereknown as Rosebuds until1915; also Guide Patrolemblem 1910 to present day.Did you know? One in four eight-year-old girls is a Brownie •

SquirrelThe grey squirrel comes from NorthAmerica and was introduced inthe UK a century ago. Theyadapted very well but hadan unfortunate effect onthe native red squirrelpopulation. With the greysquirrel also came a diseasethat is deadly to the redsquirrel. Brownie Six emblem2003 to present.Stop for the treesSome of thepoplar trees foundaround the mazeare the originalsplanted in 1870!That was thenIn 1909 Woolworths first openedand Louis Bleriot became thefirst person to fly across theEnglish Channel. Back then girlswere not allowed to run or raisetheir arms over their heads.Oak LeafConservationbadge1983–2004,pennant1978–2000.Polar BearThe warming climate and meltingArctic ice means that polar bearshave less frozen sea surface tohunt on. Without food to survivepolar bear numbers are gettingsmaller and smaller. Guide Patrolemblem 2008 to present day.Half of all women in the UK have been involved with guiding at some stage in

Not just any shrubThe maze hedging is actuallya type of tree. It is the nativeHornbeam (carpinus betulus),a popular choice for mazesbecause it is thick with leavesand very hardy.DolphinDolphins around the world are under threatfrom human activity. As well as beinghunted, pollutants and waste in the oceansmake life difficult for dolphins. Commercialfishing using great big nets also has thetendency to trap many dolphins by mistake. GuidePatrol emblem 2000 to present day.All you need is loveThe Trefoil at the centre ofthe maze is the symbol ofguiding. The three leavesrepresent the threefoldPromise, while the stalksignifies the love of mankind.OwlThe Barn Owl is the most commontype of owl. However, they areincreasingly rare in the UK as theirnatural grassland habitat is slowlydisappearing. Integral to theBrownie programme.Up to no goodWhen guiding waslaunched in 1910 angrycritics (and there wereplenty!) called it a‘mischievous newdevelopment’.their lives • If all the members of Girlguiding UK were to visit the Maze at o

It’s all Greek to meThe circular style of theCentenary Maze is calleda Cretan maze.Silver FishThe highestpossible award that can be given inguiding. In 1912 it was awarded to firstclass Guides. Since 1918 it has beenawarded for ‘exceptional service tothe Movement’.BeeBees arehard-workingcreatures essentialto plantlife as theypollinate many of our crops.No bees, no plants – no people! Mysteriously,bumblebee and honeybee populations aregetting smaller... On Thrift badges 1917 to1987, and a Guide Patrol emblem since 2008.Suggested activities• Working in pairs, lead a blind-folded partner around the Maze to try andidentify all the roundels.• Take an impression of the roundels by rubbing firmly across paper withpencils, crayons or charcoal.• Take an impression using play dough or clay.• Have a race to find all the roundels first.• The compass points around the Maze show north, south, east and west.Can you work out the compass points for each of the monoliths hiddenin the maze?• Look out for some of the plants and animals from the roundels in the park,including oak trees, bumblebees, squirrels and so on.• Identify the trees and hedging found in and around the Maze.• Time your route to the centre of the Maze. Who was quickest? Can you tryagain and beat your time?nce you’d need 9,000 double-decker buses to get them there!

ook & blackArtists brook & black created the new interactive maze concept and artwork inconsultation with Girlguiding UK and others involved with the project. brook & blackhave a history of making both temporary and permanent work that responds to publicspaces and sites, and have exhibited in galleries and museums in England and abroad.How to find the Centenary MazeThe London Development Agencyencourages all visitors to travel to thePark by public transport.RailCrystal Palace Station is situated next tothe Park off Anerley Hill. The station hasregular trains from London Bridge, Victoriaand Croydon stations.Penge West Station is five minutes’ walkvia Thicket Road, trains are from LondonBridge and Charing Cross stations.Penge East Station is 15 minutes’ walk viaThicket Road, trains are from St PancrasInternational, London Victoria and CharingCross stations.BusThefollowingbuses runto nearthe Park:2, 3, 63,122, 137a,202, 227,249, 306,322, 358,194, 227,312.Guides help plant trees forthe Maze in early 2009Volunteer for a changeVolunteering with Girlguiding UK is a fantastic way to make a real differenceto the lives of girls and young women in your community – and gain someamazing experiences yourself.Whether you can help out every few months or make a regularcommitment, we can find a role to suit you. Call 0800 1 69 59 01 or visitwww.girlguiding.org.uk to find out more.With thanks to:Jo Gibbonsbrook & black© The Guide Association 2009www.girlguiding.org.uk