Sompting, Nr Worthing, West Sussex. Reported 26th June.

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Updated Thursday 30th June  2005

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Image Andy Thomas Copyright 2005


Image Andy Thomas Copyright 2005


Image Andy Thomas Copyright 2005


Code:  SUSSEX 2005/02
 
Location:  SOMPTING, NR WORTHING, WEST SUSSEX
 
First reported:  26 June 2005
Crop:  Bearded Wheat
Design:  Ringed circle
Dimensions:  180ft total diameter
Surveyed by:  ANDY THOMAS & HELEN SEWELL, 27 June 2005 
 

REPORT:  This formation sits in a field which has played host to two previous glyphs, a double-armed spinner in 2002 and a mandala in 2003.  The field runs along the north side of the A27 in an area which has long been the most prolific hotspot for local circle activity.  It is surrounded on three sides by houses which overlook the field, and there are street lights illuminating the field where the new formation sits. 

2005's entry harks back to simpler times of the phenomenon by offering a very neat, but simple ringed circle.  Initial approximate measurements reveal the inner (clockwise) circle to be 63ft, while the width of the surrounding (anticlockwise) ring is 26ft.  The gap between the ring and circle is around 25-30ft, and the overall diameter of the formation is 180ft.  The centre of the main circle is beautifully spiralled. 

The crop is very flat to the ground and neatly laid, with crisp edges. White stem crease marks are evident in some places, though not overtly, but the formation was already over a day old when surveyed and had already been walked in.  Curious counter-currents are occasionally visible in the lay of the ring, where small clumps of stems appear suddenly to have been swept sideways, bent at the nodes seemingly to effect the resulting curvature. Manual nodal bending of this kind has proved impossible in the past, though whether this effect is deliberate here or natural gravitropism at work is hard to say for sure. 

There are other oddities in the lay.  The formative agency appears to have become slightly confused where a tramline intersects the outer edge of the central standing ring (as it were).  A thin path of laid crop has gone down INSIDE the resulting isolated 'corner', which makes no logical sense (see photo).  Where the same tramline goes through the outer ring, it seems as if a thin curtain of crop was initially left standing along the tramline while the main part of the ring next to it was laid.  That curtain appears to have then been swept down on top at the last minute.

 
Overall, a simple and pleasing, if slightly puzzling, formation.
 
Report by ANDY THOMAS, 27 June 2005
Photos by Andy Thomas
Southern Circular Research

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