Piracy Raises Funds For Charity - Extract from Nairnshire Telegraph

A fun day at Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm A-maizing Maze last weekend raised £262 for Moray Firth Radio Charities. Farm staff, dressed as pirates, cut a dash in their colourful costumes as they welcomed visitors and set them on course to discover the hidden treasure in the maze. By following a series of clues and dodging more bloodthirsty pirates, children were able to reach the treasure trove and claim their booty.

The maze, the only one of its kind in the Highlands, is cut into a three and a half acre field of maize. Nairn fruit and vegetable grower, James Clarke, chose to have the maze in the shape of a boat after a narrow escape in Thailand last Christmas when the friends’ yacht he was sailing on with his two sons, David and Reay, was hit by the tsunami. ‘After witnessing the disaster firsthand,’ James said, ‘we realised what a miraculous escape we had had, and we felt we wanted to do something to raise money for charity. I think the day has been a great success. It was a lot of fun, everybody enjoyed themselves, and the money raised will go to help good causes.’

An additional highlight during the day was the ice cream kindly donated by Carlo Miele from Forres. As for the maize, it will now be harvested for cattle feed, and a new maize will be sown next spring though James won't reveal what next year’s maize will be.