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Image Frank Laumen Copyright 2000

FIELD REPORT

Video Image M.J.Fussell Copyright 2000

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Images Stuart Dike & M.J.Fussell  Copyright 2000

This small formation on the steep slopes of Rough Down, near Maisley farm, is an indication, that the Circlemakers are extremely varied in their ability to produce a combination of large and small formations.

I have visited a number of formations on hillsides in the last ten years, but this has to rank as one of the steepest I have encountered. It is so steep, that the pole runs down on the floor construction, if you placed it in the middle of the main circle. You can also loose your footing as you walk along its axis, as you foot slides on the flattened stems. For such a steep location, the floor lay is extremely flat, but what you find in these cases, is that the crop which is flowing up the hill, is not as flattened as the crop flowing down. However because the crop is at such a stage of ripening, this time of year you tend to see more flattened constructions,. But if it had been earlier on in the season, it would have been a different story in green immature crop.

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Images Stuart Dike Copyright 2000

So what do we have at Rough Down. It is nothing like what we were experiencing back in the earlier nineties, as this same field was a witness to a wonderful triple Dumbbell design in 1991, some 450 ft long. But in the mid to late nineties we have seen a number of smaller less impressive designs in this field, but by no means poor in construction. The actual design itself includes a main central circle, with two pathways snaking pathways leading off at 6 and 9 o’clock positions. Two-joined half circles handed, are also joined at a 3’oclock position.

The main circle has a clockwise rotation, and is 28ft long. The two half circles have a running measurement of 33ft. The first half circle joined to the main circle has a clockwise rotation, the second has also a clockwise rotation.

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Images Stuart Dike Copyright 2000

The two small snaking pathways have a circle on the end. The one at 6 o’clock runs into a clockwise spiral, with what we term forking crop, which are laid into the standing wall of stems. The circle diameter is 9ft. The second pathway also includes a clockwise spiral, 6.3 feet in diameter, with a clockwise rotation.

A very interesting small formation, which at times is a nice relief from the large more unworldly designs.

Report by Stuart Dike