Today was the big reveal for the design of York Maze 2025 – and it’s celebrating a family favourite.
The theme this year is Toy Story, featuring giant figures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex and Mr Potato Head.
It marks 30 years since the first Toy Story film was released in 1995.
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Yorkshire farmer has Tom Pearcy has cut more than three miles of pathways into his 15 acre field of more than a million corn plants to create the puzzle.
Covering an area the size of eight Wembley football pitches, it’s the largest maize maze in Europe – and probably the world.
The attraction on Elvington Lane opens on Saturday and runs till Monday 1 September.
There are also more than 20 rides, attractions and shows. All the details are on the York Maze website.
Tom told YorkMix: “When I saw it was Toy Story’s 30th anniversary. I thought, I don’t need to look any further – I love Toy Story and there are great images that we can make into a maze.
“We’ve got Buzz Lightyear, we’ve got Woody, we’ve got Rex the dinosaur, and good old Mr Potato Head in the maze. And they will all make really nice pathways.”
Had the drought caused any problems? “Luckily, maize does like hot, dry weather, and it’s got exactly what it wants,” Tom said.
York Maze details
- Elvington Lane, York, YO19 5LT
- Saturday 12th July – Monday 1st September
- Saver ticket: £21.95
- Flexible ticket: £23.95
- Full details: York Maze website
“We did actually have to irrigate the crops. It’s been so dry since we planted it, we’ve had virtually no rain.
“We managed to get some irrigation from the neighbour’s farm here, and it’s grown to a nice height – but it’s flowering now, so that means it’s probably not going to get any higher.
“It’s six or seven feet high. So it’s perfect, really.”
Toy Story was the first full- length animated film created using computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Tom said: “I also use a form of CGI to create the maze design before transferring into and the latest GPS technology to plot out the design in the corn field.”
| 2002 | Viking Longship |
| 2003 | Spiders Web |
| 2004 | Flying Scotsman |
| 2005 | Big Ben |
| 2006 | Star Trek |
| 2007 | James Bond |
| 2008 | Statue of Liberty |
| 2009 | Astronaut |
| 2010 | Spitfire |
| 2011 | Harry Potter |
| 2012 | Mayan God of Corn |
| 2013 | Dalek & Doctor Who |
| 2014 | Yorkshiremen – Brian Blessed, Geoff Boycott & Jeremy Clarkson |
| 2015 | Thunderbird 2 |
| 2016 | Roald Dahl characters |
| 2017 | Star Wars |
| 2018 | Jurassic Park |
| 2019 | Lion King |
| 2020 | Closed due to Covid |
| 2021 | Mr. Men & Little Miss |
| 2022 | Lego |
| 2023 | Tutankhamun |
| 2024 | The Gruffalo |