Crop Circles

Crop circles are a truly fascinating occurrence. They are, in effect, a pattern or design pressed into a field of crop. They can stem (if you'll pardon the pun...) from a simple circle with a diameter of only a couple of feet, to complex geometric formations measuring over 1000 feet wide. The term 'crop circle' originates from the 1980, but there are records of crop circles in some form having occurred as early as 1678, when a pamphlet named ''The Mowing-Devil'' records a Hertfordshire farmer finding his field of oat inexplicably mowed in circles, later blaming the Devil. Other early reports include a 1686 record of 'fairy rings' and another report in 1880 of flattered circular patches. In terms of location, crop circles can appear anywhere. Generally however, the 'hotspot' is the United Kingdom focussing mainly on Wiltshire (in the area surrounding the historic sites at Avebury and Stonehenge) and Hampshire. 

For me, crop circles have always been a point of interest. Some 20 years ago, the phenomena was largely regarded to be the result of hoaxers, but there have been a few 'formations' (the name given to a particular pattern) in recent years that have proved a credible argument against the theory. Whilst many still refuse to accept any involvement other than that humans are responsible I find it almost indisputable that, at the very least, some of the formations of the last 40 or so years just cannot have been made by a human. The level of detail, exacting to the nearest centimetre in some cases, would be a very difficult thing for any human to do on such a large scale. Then take into account these designs are made into a field of crop, during the night in summer (which at best can be no more than 4 or so hours long). If that isn't enough of a challenge in itself, then consider the fact that nobody has ever been caught making a complex formation nor has anyone ever found an example of a 'half-finished' or a formation that was abandoned/mucked up.

Typically, man-made formations are very clearly distinguishable from other formations. Containing evidence of trampling, damaged drop and the use of wooden boards. Below is a collection of crop formations and some information behind them. I have listed crop formations I have personally visited/photographed separately.

Crop formations I have visited/photographed

2025, Sunday 27th July - Long Man of Wilmington. Two footprints and a 'splash'.

Historic crop formations

2001, Sunday 19th August - Chilbolton, Hampshire. Binary disc message and Arecibo response.
2007, Saturday 7th July - Eastfield, near Alton Barnes, Wiltshire. Complex pictogram comprising of 150+ circles.