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Code: SUSSEX 2003/10
Location: TEGDOWN HILL #2, PATCHAM, NR BRIGHTON, EAST SUSSEX
Reported: 6 August 2003
Crop: Wheat
Design: Ringed circle
Dimensions: 210ft diameter
Surveyed by: Andy Thomas & Jordan Thomas, 6 August 2003
REPORT: As my son Jordan and I were driving past the
field with the recent Patcham six-fold design in it, being eaten by
combine harvesters even as we looked, he spotted a new formation in the
north-eastern quadrant of the field, a large ringed circle. Not having
a camera on us, we dashed home in the hope of returning before this new
arrival was also dispensed with.
When we arrived back, the combine, rather
maliciously, had gone out of its way (detouring from the block of field
previously being worked on) to cut straight through the centre of the
new circle. We were able to get in and take some photos and quick
measurements of the remaining ring and what was left of the circle
before the combine returned.
There was little time to examine the state of the crop, but our quick
survey showed it to be fairly efficiently laid, all in a clockwise
direction (fitting the majority of Sussex formation components this
year). The overall diameter of the large outer ring was 210ft (12.5ft
width), while the much smaller central circle was 44ft, with a gap of
92.5ft between the circle and ring.
And then it was gone, after such a short time to
examine it. As we did our quick observations, we watched the combine
cut away the last of the six-fold flower, before moving on to this
rather short-lived addition to the field.
The remains of the flower are still pretty visible,
and what's left of the ringed circle may also still be there to be
seen, assuming ploughing doesn't take place too soon, though it may not
have been down long enough to leave as much of an impression. A couple
of years back, the remains of the thought bubble formation in this
field was never ploughed, and showed up clearly as either stubble or
clear green shoots for about a year after.
Report by ANDY THOMAS
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