Dr John Haigh has designed The Millennium Maze to be built from 1000 flagstones - one for each year of a Millennium. Richard Perham, the local Countryside Officer of Bradford Council Countryside Service has kindly agreed to assist in laying out the maze, together with volunteer workers. Please contact us if you would like to be involved!

In constructing the maze, we plan to offer individuals and community groups the chance to dedicate stones to be laid in their name. For a modest donation to Trust funds, contributors would receive a decorative map showing the unique location of their stone(s); it may also be possible to engrave the flagstones to order, and to arrange for community groups to be present at the laying of their stone(s), making for a memorable social occasion to herald the new Millennium.

In a similar way, individuals or groups would be able to sponsor a length of the 'wildlife hedge' to be planted adjacent to the maze area. In time these will grow together to form a complete community for wildlife, and be a living reflection of how our individual contributions can co-operate within the human community of our town.

We are also liaising with the Bradford Forest initiative in planting this feature, and hope to organise a public planting day in November.

Darwin's 'Origin of Species' was recently described as the 'Book of the Millennium' and we invite you to join us to make 'Darwin Gardens' Ilkley's 'Project of the Millennium'. We welcome all contributors - individuals, local businesses, or school and social groups, to demonstrate their interest in this unique opportunity to celebrate the Millennium in Ilkley. By helping to create an inspirational, educational and recreational feature, of enduring value to both residents and visitors of all ages, we can all show our respect for Ilkley's past and our determination to act positively for the future of our town and its surroundings.

If you can offer assistance with: contributions to planting or landscaping schemes; technical, artistic or organisational advice; construction skills; labour, tools and materials; fund-raising; sponsorship; publicity; contacts; then please get in touch and let us know what you would like to do for The Darwin Gardens Millennium Scheme.
 

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