A huge labyrinth inspired by the birthplace of King Arthur is being made entirely from unique stone hedges, writes John Bett.
Work is underway on a unique 56 metre path based on an historic stone carving found at the site in Tintagel Castle - that will take 4,000 years to fully complete.
The meandering structure is being built by the Kerdroya Project and consists entirely of Cornish hedges.
Will Coleman, who is heading the project, said the Cornish hedge was the oldest manmade structure in the world still being used for its initial purpose.
He said: "A hedgerow is a line of fluffy bushes, a hedge in Cornwall is something made out of stone.
"It's not a dry stone wall or a hedge really, it's something between the two. I wanted to do something with hedges because the Cornish hedge is unique.
"There are 30,000 miles of Cornish hedges and some are thought to be 4,000 years old - the hedges at Zennor have been dated by the national trust.
"That makes them the oldest man made structures in the world that are still used for their original function."
Kerdroya is described as a piece of 'land art' and is nestled on the moorland on Bodmin, near Colliford Lake.
Guests to the site will walk a meandering 56m path which winds from the beginning to the end of the labyrinth.
Will Coleman
Will said that a labyrinth is inherently different from a maze, and that creations like this would historically have been found in Cornwall.
He said: "A maze is a puzzle, somewhere you can get lost - a labyrinth is a single meandering path, a place you can find yourself.
"The direct inspiration is the Rock Valley labyrinth which is a stone carving near Tintagel, and there is also the Troy Town labyrinth on Agnes on Scilly.
"Cornwall is part of an Atlantic ark of megalithic culture. 4,000 years ago there was a shared culture along the ark from Scandinavia to Russia and down to the Mediterranean and there are examples of labyrinths in all those places.
"There are examples found along that entire stretch and the motive behind them is as elusive as the nature of a labyrinth."
The project has been underway since 2019, and although nearly a year old Will said the labyrinth was still in its infancy.
An example of the Cornish hedge being used to build the labyrinth
He said: "I'm resisting saying when it will be completed for several reasons, the main one is because we will hand it over to nature at a certain stage and let her have her fun with it.
"In 50 to 100 years time it will be mature, and if you come back in 4,000 years it will be finished.
"There might not be any humans left then, but Kredroya will still be here and will still be providing a wonderfully diverse habitat for a great many species.
"What we have done is all the hedges are laid, and we have put a map of Cornwall over the labyrinth.
"From above you can see an outline of Cornwall, and as you walk through the labyrinth you are going through different sections of Cornwall - we'll be using rock from each area as we go on.
"The ground stones are down, they are the big bits that sit under the hedge.
"That's the state she is in at the minute. We are closed now for Covid but we wouldn't want to be building in the middle of Bodmin moor at the minute anyway.
"Later this year we will be starting the courses, in March or April, if Covid allows it."
The Kerdroya has been supported by Cornwall Council, Cornwall AONB, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Cornwall Heritage Trust and FEAST.
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