A community art project that began on the banks of the River Ouse in Selby has helped inspire what is believed to be the first sawdust labyrinth on the Canal & River Trust network, now laid on the island at Naburn Lock.
PETER Clark, a labyrinth maker and former chaplain, said his visits to Selby in spring 2025, where he was invited by a community group to create a labyrinth near the River Ouse, first drew his attention to the area’s waterways and flood landscape.
He later discovered Naburn Lock, a busy stretch of river traffic where visitors on foot often overlook the grassy island between the weir and the river – an open space he felt was suited to a reflective walking route.
“I was amazed at what I encountered,” he said. “The lock was buzzing with activity on the water but for those who were on foot there appeared to be no interest in exploring the island that sits between the weir and the river. And yet there was a large expanse of grass on which to be able to walk and reflect on the historic significance of the location. To a labyrinth enthusiast, it cried out for an installation that took full advantage of the tranquil environment.”
Mr Clark has built sawdust labyrinths on flood plains, including on the River Derwent in North Yorkshire, and found the lines can survive inundation as sawdust becomes sealed under silt. He added that similar installations at monastic sites overseen by English Heritage have shown the material does not threaten archaeology. But early approaches to the Canal & River Trust were initially met with a firm no. “You can’t do it,” he said he was told, largely because it had not been attempted elsewhere on the CRT network.
A breakthrough came after Mr Clark read about waterways chaplaincy work by the Rev Chris Upton and made contact; “some of the biggest labyrinths I have made are in a high security prison where I worked as chaplain,” Mr Clark explained. Mr Upton understood the idea immediately and helped connect him with trust staff including Sharron Bright, who backed the proposal. Meetings at Naburn followed, and permission to proceed was granted.
Mr Clark carried out a flood test to demonstrate the design could withstand high water, then joined the trust as a volunteer and ran a workshop with colleagues to plan the build. The sawdust used was collected from the Stanley Ferry workshop, where it is produced during lock gate construction. Despite extensive flooding at Naburn at the time, the material was gathered and, five days later, Mr Clark and CRT volunteer co-ordinator Lucy Dockray laid out the labyrinth.
Mr Clark believes the Naburn Lock installation is a first for the network and said he would like to see a second follow. “Labyrinths can be created at very low cost, be sustainable and environmentally friendly,” he said. “Their ethos – inviting people to walk slowly and reflect – fits well with waterway values.”
Reflecting on progress made, Mr Clark said the project shows what can happen when local enthusiasm meets practical support, and he is now looking ahead to what might be built next along the waterways.
