A CANTERBURY-based design and build company has won a top award for its a-maze-ing creation.

Haywood Landscapes Ltd was Highly Commended in the recent annual awards of the Association of Professional Landscapes (APL), for its Garden Labyrinth built at Tofte Manor near Bedford.

Internationally renowned garden designer David Stevens described the feature as: "Absolutely beautifully constructed – superb attention to detail."

The structure is a 114 per cent scale recreation of the 14th century labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, France, with an extra feature.

Buried beneath the grass paths, 600 metres of copper pipe carries water to the centre of the labyrinth before spiralling over an immense quartz crystal.

It then returns to a tap from which labyrinth walkers can drink, the water energised by the sacred patterning of the labyrinth.

It is latest in a long line of awards for the company, which was founded in 1990 by brothers Andrew and Robert Wiggins.

Offering a complete range of garden services, from landscape design to small gardening jobs, the company was also a founder member of the Association of Professional Landscapers.

Andrew Wiggins, managing director of Haywood Landscapes said: "I’m delighted that the company’s high quality work has again achieved recognition in competition against some of the best landscapers in the country.

"We are now looking forward to our next challenge, creating a show garden at this year’s Hampton Court Flower Show, which will be an elegant courtyard garden built around a labyrinth."