Medway Crop Circle 2006 Page

THE FLOWER OF LIFE-LESS-NESS

Lower Bluebell Hill, Nr. Maidstone

JUNE 22nd 2006 - Oats

OS Map Ref: TQ751597 (Approx.)

These two formations were found lying in a large sloping field of maturing oats, that's situated fairly close to the busy A229. The larger of the two was a six-fold variation of a "Genesis Flower" with quite a large-laid circle as its centrepiece. The other formation which sat quite close to it, was a clockwise laid circle which featured a reasonably attractive standing tuft at its centre. This circle was also surrounded by a ring...something that commonly appeared in our fields during the late 80's to early 90's. These types generally became known as "ringers".

It came as somewhat a surprise to learn that both the designs that were employed here were featured in recent articles I've posted on this site.

...Reading The Signs Part Two (for the Genesis Flower) and Reading The Signs Part Three (for the rings)

And what's more the actual ringed circle that's appears here is a dead ringer for the Cheesefoot Head formation that appeared in '87 that I chose to illustrate my article with!

Suspicions were first aroused about its authenticity, when visitors realised that quite a number of the laid plants had obvious board-marks on their flattened stems...something that's easily detectable in un-ripened crop. It was also noted that the standing crop was seen to "square off" in places...again, something that's always easy to confirm when you have a good aerial (cheers AK!)

Full report here

Diagram © Tommy Borms

Photo © Andrew King

Photo © Andrew Fowlds

Evidence of "Kinking" Photo © William Betts

THE BURHAM POINTING STAR

Burham, Nr. Maidstone

JUNE 24th 2006 - Wheat

MAP REF: TQ736621 (Approx.)

Kent has another superb crop circle that in keeping with many of our local events over the past few years, has again arrived in daylight! It lies next to The Pilgrims Way & can be easily seen from the Blue Bell Hill Picnic Area. This beautiful formation that has a lot in common with many of the designs that arrive locally, is laid out in barley that's just turned to gold. This golden event appeared yesterday evening (June 24th) at sometime after 8.0 pm according to some reliable sources (I was there at 7.30 pm and there was no sign of it then!). This field previously received a crop circle on 14th July 2004, but on that occasion it appeared in the opposite corner. We have learnt that the farmer is not best pleased...

This formation that likely appeared late evening on the 24/6/06 has aroused much interest. Laid in barley which often presents us with an exquisite floor lay, it certainly didn't let us down! Whilst there really was nothing to speak of in the way of centrepieces or the like, it generally flowed beautifully. Viewed obliquely you were often reminded of shallow waves complete with sea horses!...But when you looked straight down on it in some areas, you were confronted by a lightly feathered weave, further enhanced by the "fluffiness" that can only be seen in barley.

The formation from the air does look a bit at odds with itself. But according to Andy Fowlds :- "The formation at Burham is positioned on a fairly steep slope - I think the reason for the quirky geometry is because of the METHOD of transmission and how that can be affected by the natural contours of the land. It almost looks like the design has been "stretched". This isn't the first formation we have seen formed like this and I doubt it will be the last"

Ground report from Andy Fowlds here

Further report from Graham Tucker here

Enlarged photo - here

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Photo © Andrew Fowlds

THE WOULDHAM SEED OF LIFE

Wouldham, Nr. Rochester

JULY 04th 2006 - Wheat

OS Map Ref: TQ725662 (Approx.)

Without doubt this is a simple flower design that has a distinctive Kentish feel about it. Geometrically it's based upon a "Seed of Life" figure, that forms part of an age-old compass exercise that's known collectively as the "Genesis Geometry". All that's missing is the actual "seed" itself, for right in the centre circle a six-petalled flower-seed would have appeared if all the outer circles surrounding it were completed

Those that have managed to visit it speak highly of it. Apparently all the circles are quite neatly laid, and of particular interest is the beautiful sweep into a raised centrepiece that's to be found in the main circle. Having said that, when you view the overhead it doesn't look quite as well defined as perhaps we might've wished for.

This formation continues an alignment that's formed entirely by the positions of past formations. Beginning with the Boxley event of 2005, the line heads approximately for five miles NW until it slices through the Nashenden Farm formation of 2004. It then crosses over the old "North Downs Way" pilgrim track to link up with the "Borstal Bubble Ring" of 2001, before finally jumping over into the next field along that's hosting the new circle. We must also mention that this is the first time we have known a formation to have appeared in this field which coincidently or otherwise, lies right next to the "Pilgrims Way".

As with 90% of all other Kent formations we find that once again one of our ancient pilgrim tracks has been acknowledged. This new formation is also carrying on with the other old Kent tradition of throwing the numbers three and six at our feet

Over the years a few have related the strange experience of wishing for a circle to appear in a chosen field, in a certain place etc, only to find that within hours or days their wish has been granted. I'll spare you the details, but it looks like on this occasion I've just joined them!

Report from Andy Fowlds here

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Photo © Andrew Fowlds

Photo © Debbie Marriage

THE BOXLEY CROWN OF STARS

Boxley, Nr. Maidstone

JULY 08th 2006 - Wheat

MAP REF: TQ766583 (Approx.)

This spectacular fractalised snowflake that's spread over four tramlines, rests on a gentle slope in the same field that hosted last year's Boxley event. This is a very large field and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was two or three fields. The deception is due to the long woodland divides, plus the wild bank of the brook that runs just below the formation, that flows from the springs at nearby Boarley.

This formation is a million miles away from any "circle faking" efforts ... its floor lay is a free-flowing reminder of just why my interest in this amazing phenomena never wanes. What confronts you is a liquid sweep of crop flowing throughout its entirety, that looks as if it's rushed around in an attempt to fill every nook and cranny. It's as if the tide came in...just look at William Betts photo below!

Whilst the small circles lacked standing centres, they splayed out so well that they didn't disappoint. Interestingly, a few fanned-out right across the path of the tramlines.

Once again "The Circlemakers" have laid the numbers 3 & 6 etc at our feet. And this time with this design, the geometers are certain to have their very own "field" day! The formation doesn't appear to align with anything at present, but as we know from past experience, maybe that's all to come.

The formation faces the fragmentary remains of Boxley's Cistercian Abbey, which are now to be found within the grounds of an 18th century private house. Founded in 1146 the Cistercian Monastic Order is important historically for the cult worship of the Virgin Mary. The wealth of the abbey was considerable at one time and much of it was lavished on the church within the abbey that was naturally dedicated to Mary. It was said to surpass all others in magnificence. The boundary walls of the abbey precincts are strewn with ivy and broken in places but are still complete and enclose some fifteen acres. A ragstone barn circa 1280 still stands perfectly preserved within this area which at one time it's believed, was where pilgrims stayed before setting out once again for the nearby Pilgrims Way to Canterbury.

Further Report from Graham Tucker here

Enlarged Photos here

THE FIBON-KNACKERED-INSECTOID

Blue Bell Hill, Nr Maidstone

JULY 11th 2006 - Wheat

MAP REF: TQ740613 (Approx.)

This formation in wheat appears in more or less the same position as the Kits Coty formation 26 July 2003. It's visible from the Blue Bell Hill picnic area and is an insectoid design consisting of 9/10 circles following a sort of Fibonacci spiral.

I found this evidence all over the formation, everywhere I looked. Now, if I only found isolated cases of this kind of creasing effect I would suggest it was probably caused by people’s feet – visitors to the formation for example, but not in this case – the “kinking” was to be seen EVERYWHERE… and Graham and I were quite likely to have been the first few people visiting the formation on the day it was discovered, so I doubt this creasing could have been caused by peoples feet alone…it was clearly stomped into the ground. Much of the crop was broken and damaged – the circles were not very “circular” and there was a definite “squaring off” effect on one of the “ears” of the insect-shaped head of the formation. From the air the formation didn’t look very impressive – one could clearly see an underlying track that went in a curve shape to be used as a guide to where the circles were to be formed and linked together – all in all it was very rough looking from the air - this “effort” was probably made by the same gang as the Lower Blue Bell Hill formation on June 22^nd this season and quite possibly the same gang responsible for a couple of last years efforts, notably the “Earth Included” formation at the White Horse Stone. I think they are trying to copy designs out of one of Colin Andrew’s earlier books published in the 90s on crop circles – as this one is a definite throw back to a similar design in Wiltshire in 1994.

Further report from Andy Fowlds here