Marley Hughes enjoying last year's Exbury Maze

The six acres of fast-growing maize, planted in May and now knee-high, will, over the next two weeks, have the twisting pathways cleared so that the shape emerges.

The giant puzzle, based on the iconic Wizard of Oz lion, was designed by Adrian Fisher, world authority on mazes of all sorts.

“It’s a bit like following a knitting pattern,” said Vicky Scott, maze manager at Exbury. “We cover the six acres in a rope grid, and pull out the plants that cover the pathways to give us the finished design.

The maze, which opens for business on July 21, will be given the once-over by local school children earlier in the month.

Youngsters from Freemantle and Cantell Schools, Southampton, are testing it on July 12 and 17, before it opens to the public.

“It should be pretty high by then,” said Vicky. “The warm sunny weather with good doses of rain has proved ideal for helping it to grow quickly. We hope the children will enjoy trying to find their way out.”

Once inside the maze, all visitors will have the chance to complete the Puzzling World of Oz quiz, for which a prize will be awarded at the end of the season.

For more information on the Exbury Maize maze, which opens on July 21 and closes on September 2, please visit www.exburymaizemaze.co.uk  The Maze is situated in a large field across the road from the Gardens car park and steam railway.