HUNDREDS of crop circle enthusiasts have been flocking from across Europe to a field near Inkpen to spot this intricate design that has appeared in barley.
Jamie Saddler, whose bungalow backs onto the field near Walbury Hill, near Combe, said: “Hundreds of people turned up on Sunday, on their way to summer
solstice celebrations.
“There were people from Holland, Belgium and France. One group said they found a crystal in the middle of the crop circle and one person, from France, said that the circle gave them healing powers.”
Scientific research has shown that, in some formations, the crop has been super-heated causing steam to blow vent holes in the stem nodes and indicating microwave radiation as a possible source.
Theories range from the testing and calibrating of a secret military weapon to more esoteric causes.
Mr Saddler, however, does not think that there is anything supernatural about this circle.
“You can see where someone has put a peg in the middle and walked around with a board,” he said.
“It’s clever, though, because the design is spot-on.”
Crop circle photographer Steve Alexander, who runs a website
dedicated to the phenomenon – www.temporarytemples.co.uk – took the above photograph from a helicopter, but those hoping to see the whole design on foot have been largely disappointed.
Newbury resident Alison Mawdesley, who has visited several crop circles, including this one, said that she feels there is something mystical about them.
“It’s just like stepping into another world,” she added. “Why it is there, is a mystery, but I think it is beautiful.”