Cherhill Field, nr Cherhill, Wiltshire. Reported 6th August.

IMMATURE BARLEY FIELD SURPRISES CROP CIRCLE COMMUNITY

As we reach the month of August, we expect to see golden fields of mature wheat, on the verge of being harvested. But what’s this? Green barley at the end of July, with its own crop circle formation. The Connector team investigated this rather surprising late event, on an eventful day for us!

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The field around the ancient fortification of Oldbury Castle is a well-known site for the crop circles. The first ever event to appear near its slopes was way back in 1989, when a huge Celtic cross design appeared on the opposite side of the A4. Normally, we receive formations directly below the Cherhill White Horse, or to the side of it, but in 2000, we witnessed a return of the Circlemakers in a field, which has never been used before, until now!

‘It was certainly turning into one of those weekends, which you began to wonder why we ever bothered to venture outside’

On a rather sticky but overcast weekend in Wiltshire, the team was separated for a day. Mark was waiting for a flight, to fly over the very latest formations, in particularly frustrating dull weather, were as myself was frantically trying to keep the Digital Camcorder dry, using the photography pole. It was certainly turning into one of those weekends, which you began to wonder why we ever bothered to venture outside. But looking back now, I was glad that we had, as the day proved to be quite successful with regard to new events.

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I couldn’t believe another formation has occurred on the very same night’

Mark rang me on the mobile; feeling rather disappointed that yet again we had to cancel a flight due to our wonder summer not! I decided to move onto the next formation, which was an existing design at Stanton Bridge. I arranged to meet Mark there to return the Camcorder, but he never arrived. I received another phone call telling me of a new formation (this is how it works folks) at Horton, on The Knoll. Blimey I though, as I dropped everything once again to see this latest pattern. Well, it happened again, while we were taking photographs of this brand new formation, someone within the formation, told us of another formation at Cherhill.

I almost collapsed with exhaustion, as I couldn’t believe another formation has occurred on the very same night. I was also dreading the thought of walking to this Cherhill field, as it was quite a distance from the road.

‘I remember someone stating that we are in a time warp here, as if we returned to the month of June’

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The field in question, was a field I have always wanted a formation to appear in. Its a prime location for an event, as it has a gentle slope, so you can photograph it at a oblique angle, but it has always been a field (as far as I can remember) with growing crops each year. Not forgetting the impressive Cherhill White Horse and monument as a great backdrop, for the photographers of this world. The crop itself this was a very surprising green Barley. It was quite surreal to be stepping into a crop, which you tend to regard as an early summer medium for the Circlemakers. I remember someone stating that we are in a time warp here, as if we have returned to the month of June.

Finally we move onto the formation itself. Well, it was after all that time and effort a disappointment to us all. From the roadside, its rather elaborate appearance was let down by a very poor floor pattern, and overall design. For some reason, the combination of perhaps a complicated design and the immaturity of the Barley didn’t really work as a piece of artwork. Quite number of people also commented on the poor quality of the floor construction, a lot of broken stems, but the overall impression was that it was far to mechanical for people to take seriously. But we all loved the location, and had an enjoyable time just soaking up the vista in front of us, and remembering other times throughout the season.

Report by Stuart Dike.