Mizmaze

A mizmaze forms a pattern unlike conventional mazes and is classed as a labyrinth because the path has no junctions or crossings.

It is enclosed by a grove of yew trees; close to it is a Bronze Age barrow or burial mound.

In early 2010 a few surrounding trees were felled as water falling from overhanging branches was eroding part of the maze, but the overall character of the setting is unaffected; as it is difficult to date turf mazes, it is in any case possible that there was no woodland when it was created.

[1] The Winchester Mizmaze is most unusual, being roughly square, although its paths curve gently and it has rounded corners.

More commonly the turf itself forms the raised path, which is marked out by shallow channels excavated between its twists and turns; this is the case at Breamore, where the mizmaze is circular (a version of the medieval labyrinth design) and surrounded by trees.