Have
aliens made their mark in a Devon field, or could these first crop
circles in the area be the work of pranksters?
Whoever or whatever is responsible for the circles, known to experts in
the field as agriglyphs - from the Greek for field and carving - they
have caused a stir at Colaton Raleigh, near Exmouth.
Locals have been scratching their heads in disbelief since they woke up
to three geometrically perfect and artistic circles several days ago.
The elaborate patterns, bordered by two tram lines, have come to light
in fields alongside Home Farm, owned by Bicton College.
News of the sightings swept through the East Devon community and people
have been driving out to the sleepy village on the Newton Poppleford to
Budleigh Salterton road to view the latest attraction.
But just how the shapes got there remains a mystery. They are believed
to be the first in East Devon. The phenomenon is more common in counties
such as Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, following the rise of the
phenomenon in the 1980s.
Die-hard enthusiasts say the circles are a type of paranormal activity
or communication from aliens. Sceptics blame hoaxers.
Robin Boaden, dairy manager at the 470-acre Home Farm, admitted it was
puzzling.
He said: "The crop circles suddenly appeared last week and cover about
an acre of a field where winter crops are growing.
"No one at the farm has any idea how the circles got there. They are
about 100 yards from the main road. They cannot be seen from the road
but are clearly visible from the Bicton College building."
Ian Johnson, of the Devon National Farmers' Union Exeter-based regional
office, was also mystified.
He said: "We have not had reports of crop circles in this part of Devon
before. I believe them to be elaborate hoaxes.''
Brian Finnegan, who runs Colaton Raleigh Service Station, said: "It
would surprise me if a student from the college was responsible for
this, because they are so well behaved.''
Regulars at the Otter pub in the village admitted it was a mystery.
One local said: "We are going round in circles ourselves trying to
figure out where the crop circles came from.
"Everyone is at a loss as to what has happened here, but I doubt whether
aliens have been at work. Colaton Raleigh is so quiet.
"We think they are the first crop circles of their kind in East Devon.''
Local artist Alan Cotton admitted he had not heard about the circles
until he was contacted by the Echo.
"It's bound to be a talking point now,'' he said.
Farmer's wife Margaret Carter, who runs a village farm with her husband
Oliver, said: "We have not heard of anything like this locally before,
but it sounds very strange.''
Geoffrey Sworder, of the Devon branch of the Council for the Protection
of Rural England, was unimpressed.
He said: "I know a lot of these crop circles are spoofs, and if they are
it is sad because actions like this spoil crops."
Truth Is Out There
Crop circles remain an unexplained phenomenon, but it is believed most
are man-made rather than the work of space travellers.
The unexplained patterns, scientifically called agriglyphs, have
magically appeared all over Britain including fields in Wiltshire,
Hampshire, Gloucester, Dorset and Yorkshire.
A mini industry has evolved through enthusiasts visiting popular crop
circle venues.
Websites attract millions of hits from keen observers of the phenomenon.
Hollywood has cashed in with the film Signs starring Mel Gibson as a
circle hunter.
The earliest known formation in England was in 1647. They were often
spotted in the early 1980s, with reports saying strange lights had been
seen above the sites, prompting theories that they were created by alien
visitors.
A big year was 1990, when a record number of pictograms - long chains of
circles, rectangles and other shapes - were reported.
Patterns mostly appear at night and the largest appeared at Milk Hill,
near Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, in August 2001. The six-armed motif
contained 409 circles.
