Like the TARDIS materialising from another dimension a giant Dalek has cropped up in a field of maize on the outskirts of York. Is it the work of alien invaders or crop circle pranksters? In fact it is an inspired piece of field art created by Yorkshire farmer and Doctor Who fan Tom Pearcy as his tribute to the 50th anniversary of the show. 

Mr Pearcy’s York Maze design features the biggest image of a Dalek ever created, over 300m (1000ft) long, cut out of an 18 acre field of over one million living maize plants. The design also includes images of the first Doctor in 1963 William Hartnell and the current Doctor 2013’s Matt Smith. The 10km of pathways form an intricate maize maze which visitors can explore. York Maze is the largest maze in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Tom Pearcy said:

“Like many kids I grew up watching Doctor Who from behind the sofa and fell in love with the show. I wanted to create a piece of art as a tribute to the 50th anniversary and also make it interactive so visitors can have their own adventures in time and space inside the maze.”

The sixth Doctor, Colin Baker met up with some of his old foes the Daleks at the launch of the York Maze.

Colin Baker said:

“It is fantastic to see how much interest there is in the 50th anniversary of the show. I have been invited to join events all over the world this year, but what York Maze have created with their giant maize maze has to be one of the most imaginative ways to mark the 50th anniversary I have seen. Who would have thought almost thirty years after I played the Doctor that the show would continue to go from strength to strength reaching a new generation of fans. It is great that children and their families will be able to have their own Doctor Who inspired adventures in the York Maze this summer.”

A video from today's press launch for the maze can now be watched below:

+  York Maze is open to the public from Saturday 13th July to Monday 2nd September. See www.yorkmaze.co.uk for details.

[Source: York Maze]