A unique public art installation celebrating the natural beauty and heritage of Cornwall has officially opened to the public on Bodmin Moor. Timed to coincide with the Spring Equinox, the project — named Kerdroya — is a hand-built granite labyrinth set within the rugged landscape surrounding Colliford Lake.
A Celebration Rooted in Stone
Constructed over five years using traditional Cornish stone hedging methods, Kerdroya weaves together heritage, art, and landscape into a single experience. The labyrinth spans an impressive 445 metres (1,460 ft), and is made up of 140,000 granite stones — each one carefully laid by hand. Visitors can walk a full 750-metre (2,461 ft) path within its winding form.
Crafting Connection Through Cornish Tradition
Will Coleman, the project’s creator and director of Golden Tree Productions, described Kerdroya as “communal, spiritual and educational.” It’s not merely a visual spectacle, he explains — it’s a tribute to Cornwall’s rich traditions and wild terrain, and an invitation to slow down and reflect. “Every stone laid carried a story,” he said. “It’s our landscape and our heritage, woven together, for the next 4,000 years.”
This isn’t Coleman’s first large-scale tribute to Cornish culture. He previously brought the Man Engine — a giant mechanical puppet of a Cornish miner — to life in a nationally celebrated touring performance. With Kerdroya, his focus turns inward: “In a maze you get lost,” he remarked, “but in a labyrinth you find yourself.”
A Living Archive of Support
Visitors walking the labyrinth will encounter messages along the way from “hedge pledgers” — individuals and organisations who backed the campaign. These inscriptions form a kind of living archive, commemorating the collective support behind the initiative.
The Centrepiece of the Labyrinth
At the heart of Kerdroya is a sculptural centrepiece designed by father-and-son duo Thomas and Gary Thrussell. The artists describe it as the “beating heart” of the labyrinth — a place for contemplation and pause.
- Thomas Thrussell called it “a focal point to ponder and think about the journey you have been on.”
- The installation also serves as a symbolic crossroads between nature, heritage, and human creativity.
Opening to the Public
The labyrinth officially opened on 21 March, marking the Spring Equinox — a moment of renewal and balance. Its location on Bodmin Moor places it among one of Cornwall’s most iconic landscapes, now enhanced with a lasting tribute to the region’s identity.
Kerdroya is not just an artistic landmark — it is a celebration of Cornwall’s enduring spirit, built stone by stone into the land that inspired it.
