Navigation menu

Work begins on labyrinth

Work has now begun on the first labyrinth to be built on an English university campus. The University of Kent has commissioned researcher and designer Jeff Saward to construct the labyrinth, which will also be the first to be used as a teaching and learning resource. Based on medieval designs, the labyrinth is sited on the University grounds overlooking Canterbury Cathedral and will provide a peaceful and accessible walk for the University's staff and students, as well as for the wider community, from mid-August.

Speaking at a small ceremony held to mark the start of the work, Dr Louise Naylor, Head of the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching said 'We are very pleased to see this work getting underway. It is, to our knowledge, the first labyrinth to be built at an English university and is an innovative work of art which will provide opportunity for personal reflection. We hope it will be ready by mid-August.'

The impetus for the building of the labyrinth came from Dr Jan Sellers, Creative Learning Fellow at the University of Kent. In 2005, Dr Sellers won a £50,000 National Teaching Fellowship as part of a national scheme to recognise excellence in teaching, and she sees the labyrinth as a valuable teaching and earning resource. It could also be used as a new performance space for the University.

The labyrinth will be completely flat, created from reinforced grass and from Yorkstone, the same material as the ancient pavements in Canterbury. Designer Jeff Saward is working in conjunction with Andrew Wiggins of Haywood Landscapes.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 8:55am 26 June 2008