Crystal Palace Park and Girlguiding UK

It was a Crystal Palace Park in 1909 that a small group of pioneering girls stopped Robert Baden-Powell at a boys scout rally in the park to demand that a girls movement be formed. After this event it became obvious to Baden-Powell that if a girls movement were to be formed and to succeed it must have its own scheme. Following the request from the girls at Crystal Palace Baden-Powell went ahead and published his scheme for 'Girl Guides' with 6,000 girls registering in 1910.

From humble beginnings Girlguiding UK has grown into the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK, with 600,000 members. There are now 10 million girls and women involved in guiding in 145 different countries. Girlguiding UK is the foremost organisation for girls and women of all ages.

Guiding has always been true to the pioneering spirit of its first members and yet is a modern and relevant 21st century organisation offering distinctive, stimulating and enjoyable activities. The fundamental core is about allowing girls and young women to fulfil their potential and to take an active and responsible role in society.

In partnership with a number of different interested groups and organisations including the London Borough of Bromley and the LDA, Girlguiding UK is seeking to create a permanent celebration of this pioneering spirit in the park as part of its centenary celebration in September 2009.

Read more about the ideas for the new Maze and look at the plans by selecting items from the top right menu.