1997 was a great year for Crop Circles, especially in the Wiltshire area. It is a long standing tradition for people to visit these amazing formations; last year has been no exception. Down To Earth have not missed any of it, all of us managing to get down to Wiltshire on and off at some time during the season. After having heard about some early formations - like the formation at Barbury Castle, and the Tree of Life formation - who could resist reaching that lost haven?

Although some researchers will have nothing to do with Crop Circles, as a Ufologist, I find the Crop Circle phenomena an integral part of Ufology, my reason for this is simple; Ufologists have been looking for alien contact and answers as to why we may be being contacted , surely these circles could be some kind of answer to us by these visitors. Looking at past and recent formations, it seems that the message being passed by these visitors is one of great human importance, which at present we are not taking on board. Now I am the first to admit that I am not the world's greatest Crop Circle researcher, but there is something about how an amazingly complex pattern is laid down. For it to then be seen by huge numbers of people from all walks of life and of social structures, and where class is thrown out of the window, where these formations simply seem to strike a chord within us that it is almost unilaterally unifying.

Yes, there are hoaxes, but personally, I and many people I know have a gut feeling about them, some are good, but there just isn't that air of mysticism about them. I never give too much time to Crop Circle hoaxers for the simple reason' croppies such as Colin Andrews' Busty Taylor' David Kingston' to name a few are too busy trying to unravel the true mystery of genuine Crop Circle formations and not to get to involved with these nocturnal no hopers creating hoaxes.

Another factor is the synchronicity you can find in Circles it's amazing. People meet old friends they haven't seen in years, and take up the conversation about Circles' which they had started some time previous as if it were just yesterday. You also usually meet some of the kindest, most content people who have nothing but the best of intentions, and have a great aura of peace about them, all leaving behind a little piece of themselves to the Crop Circle Phenomena.

It does look that Circles are increasing year by year and was I delighted to have been the first person to report the now famous Littlebury Green formation of July 14th 1996. There were two formations in the same area during 1997; one in Littlebury Green the other in Strethall. But the majority of Circles keep reappearing in Wiltshire.

If you do manage to reach the lost haven of Wiltshire, you really must try to visit the Barge Inn, it is quite simply the place to be. Not only does it have a back room dedicated to the phenomena but it serves the greatest food and beer , which comes in handy after long those long walks in Circles, and it can also be a great place to meet old friends and make new acquaintances. The back room has a map on the wall of all the formations past and present so go prepared with a map, pen and paper. The room also boasts some of the best Crop Circle photos old and new. I can say that I have made some new friends this season in Wiltshire, some have alternative theories on this phenomenon but everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.

No matter what goes on concerning all types of media showing hoax Crop Circles, the point is that there is a genuine mystery occurring in the wheat fields of Britain. Once you can see past the hoaxes you may be in with a chance of actually finding out not only what this all really means to you as an individual, but also to us as a race. At Down To Earth, it is our aim to take a positive interest in this mystery and to try and help to put the pieces of this puzzle together.

You can contact Roy Hale by Direct E-mail:roy@thelosthaven.co.uk

Articles