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ARE THESE CROP CIRCLES THE WORK OF ALIENS OR HOAXERS?
BY JOHN FLETCHER
12:00 - 02 July 2003

Have aliens made their mark in a Devon field, or could these first crop
circles in the area be the work of pranksters?
Whoever or whatever is responsible for the circles, known to experts in the
field as agriglyphs - from the Greek for field and carving - they have
caused a stir at Colaton Raleigh, near Exmouth.
Locals have been scratching their heads in disbelief since they woke up to
three geometrically perfect and artistic circles several days ago.
The elaborate patterns, bordered by two tram lines, have come to light in
fields alongside Home Farm, owned by Bicton College.
News of the sightings swept through the East Devon community and people have
been driving out to the sleepy village on the Newton Poppleford to Budleigh
Salterton road to view the latest attraction.
But just how the shapes got there remains a mystery. They are believed to be
the first in East Devon. The phenomenon is more common in counties such as
Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, following the rise of the phenomenon in the
1980s.
Die-hard enthusiasts say the circles are a type of paranormal activity or
communication from aliens. Sceptics blame hoaxers.
Robin Boaden, dairy manager at the 470-acre Home Farm, admitted it was
puzzling.
He said: "The crop circles suddenly appeared last week and cover about an
acre of a field where winter crops are growing.
"No one at the farm has any idea how the circles got there. They are about
100 yards from the main road. They cannot be seen from the road but are
clearly visible from the Bicton College building."
Ian Johnson, of the Devon National Farmers' Union Exeter-based regional
office, was also mystified.
He said: "We have not had reports of crop circles in this part of Devon
before. I believe them to be elaborate hoaxes.''
Brian Finnegan, who runs Colaton Raleigh Service Station, said: "It would
surprise me if a student from the college was responsible for this, because
they are so well behaved.''
Regulars at the Otter pub in the village admitted it was a mystery.
One local said: "We are going round in circles ourselves trying to figure
out where the crop circles came from.
"Everyone is at a loss as to what has happened here, but I doubt whether
aliens have been at work. Colaton Raleigh is so quiet.
"We think they are the first crop circles of their kind in East Devon.''
Local artist Alan Cotton admitted he had not heard about the circles until
he was contacted by the Echo.
"It's bound to be a talking point now,'' he said.
Farmer's wife Margaret Carter, who runs a village farm with her husband
Oliver, said: "We have not heard of anything like this locally before, but
it sounds very strange.''
Geoffrey Sworder, of the Devon branch of the Council for the Protection of
Rural England, was unimpressed.
He said: "I know a lot of these crop circles are spoofs, and if they are it
is sad because actions like this spoil crops."
Truth Is Out There
Crop circles remain an unexplained phenomenon, but it is believed most are
man-made rather than the work of space travellers.
The unexplained patterns, scientifically called agriglyphs, have magically
appeared all over Britain including fields in Wiltshire, Hampshire,
Gloucester, Dorset and Yorkshire.
A mini industry has evolved through enthusiasts visiting popular crop circle
venues.
Websites attract millions of hits from keen observers of the phenomenon.
Hollywood has cashed in with the film Signs starring Mel Gibson as a circle
hunter.
The earliest known formation in England was in 1647. They were often spotted
in the early 1980s, with reports saying strange lights had been seen above
the sites, prompting theories that they were created by alien visitors.
A big year was 1990, when a record number of pictograms - long chains of
circles, rectangles and other shapes - were reported.
Patterns mostly appear at night and the largest appeared at Milk Hill, near
Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, in August 2001. The six-armed motif contained 409
circles.