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The York Maze Thunderbird 2 is GO!

Jamie AndersonJuly 9, 20152 Mins read1.3k Views

York Maize Maze 2015...Seen here the York Maize Maze which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of Thunderbirds (1965-2015) with a giant Thunderbird 2 carved out of an 18 acre field of maize plants to create a giant maze. Seen here; farmer and maze creator TOM PEARCY dressed as the Thunderbird character 'Virgil Tracy', alongside JAMIE ANDERSON, director of Anderson Entertainment and son of the late Gerry Anderson; creator of Thunderbirds with a model of Thunderbird 2. York Maize Maze is the largest maze in the UK, and the largest Maize Maze in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. The 300m metre long Thunderbird 2 is the largest representation of a Thunderbird anywhere in the world.

A Yorkshire farmer has created a 300m long representation of THUNDERBIRD 2 from maize plants!

Tom Pearcey has created the York Maze Thunderbird 2 from over 1,000,000 maize plants.

York Maize Maze 2015...Seen here the York Maize Maze which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of Thunderbirds (1965-2015) with a giant Thunderbird 2 carved out of an 18 acre field of maize plants to create a giant maze. Seen here; farmer and maze creator TOM PEARCY dressed as the Thunderbird character 'Virgil Tracy', alongside JAMIE ANDERSON, director of Anderson Entertainment and son of the late Gerry Anderson; creator of Thunderbirds with a model of Thunderbird 2. York Maize Maze is the largest maze in the UK, and the largest Maize Maze in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. The 300m metre long Thunderbird 2 is the largest representation of a Thunderbird anywhere in the world. — York Maize Maze 2015…Seen here the York Maize Maze which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of Thunderbirds (1965-2015) with a giant Thunderbird 2 carved out of an 18 acre field of maize plants to create a giant maze.York Maize Maze is the largest maze in the UK, and the largest Maize Maze in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. The 300m metre long Thunderbird 2 is the largest representation of a Thunderbird anywhere in the world.

Says Tom Pearcy, “As a kid I remember watching Gerry Anderson’s great TV shows like Stingray, Captain Scarlet, but Thunderbirds was my favourite. I wanted to do something big to mark the 50th anniversary. As a child Thunderbird 2 captured my imagination, I think it’s the most iconic of all the Thunderbirds and being green it works perfectly carved into the field of maize plants!”

Measuring over 300m (1000ft) long, Thunderbird 2 has been painstakingly carved out of over 1 million living maize plants. It took Mr Pearcy and his team of helpers nearly a week to cut out the 6km of pathways in his 18 acre field near York to form the giant Thunderbird image together with the words ‘Thunderbirds Are 50’. The pathways in the field form an intricate maze for visitors to explore. The York Maze is believed to be the largest maze in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Jamie Anderson, son of Thunderbirds creator the late Gerry Anderson, was so impressed when he heard about Mr Pearcy’s amazing maze that he had to come to York to see it for himself. Jamie took a helicopter flight over the giant 18 acre maize maze to see the design.

Says Jamie Anderson, “It’s incredible, this really is an amazing tribute to 50 years of Thunderbirds. I’m sure my father would have been thrilled to see this and he would have been particularly interested in the design process and how it has been carved into the field in such impressive detail.”

The Thunderbirds 50th tribute York Maze is open for visitors to explore this summer from Saturday 11 July to Monday 7th September, when the maize will be harvested and fed to the cows. For details of opening times visit www.yorkmaze.co.uk.