New Formations July 22 & July 23

South Field, Alton Priors, Wilts
22nd July 2008 - Wheat

South Field in Alton Priors in Wiltshire was the location of a new circle on July 22nd.

Here is a diagram of the formation as it first looked on the morning of the 2nd.

Diagram by Andreas Müller - with thanks.
Click on the image above to visit Andreas' great website!

We did not fly on the first day as the weather had turned cloudy by the time our pilot was available so had to wait overnight for the weather to improve. At 9.00am today Steve finally got up into the air only to find the formation had grown considerably....

Photo Steve Alexander

Photo Steve Alexander

This particular bird motif is something we have seen before, though not on this scale. The first was in 2003 at Adam's Grave, Alton Barnes, Wilts (3 birds) and the second was last year at Wexcombe Down, Wilts (4 birds). The first stage of the South Field formation contained 6 birds and the final incarnation 12 birds! Formations that occur over more than one night are rare, but not unheard of. In 2004 a formation at Stanton St Bernard in Wiltshire grew over 3-4 nights. Whilst in 1994 the famous Spider's Web formation at Avebury occurred over two nights.

Avebury Manor, Wilts (revisited)
23rd July 2008 - wheat

South Field was not the only location to receive a second visit during the night of the 22nd/23rd July. The farmer had previously mowed out some of the inner details of the Avebury Manor 2012 formation - particularly the beautifully swirled centre circle. However during the night the centre circle had been enlarged and (where crop was still stading) re-swirled. A second huge ring appeared alongside the original formation along with several other smaller shapes in the same field.

Photo Steve Alexander

http://www.temporarytemples.co.uk/