Journey into crop circle country (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Journey into crop circle country

THEY are beautiful, intricate and have baffled people for centuries. Now north Wiltshire's crop circles are the subject of a feature-length American DVD.

Producer Laurence Newnam spent a summer travelling around north Wiltshire filming CircleSpeak: A Journey Into the Heart of Crop Circle Country.

The three-hour DVD charts the history and mystery of the phenomenon around north Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Independent filmmakers New Land Films talked to local farmers, enthusiasts and members of Wiltshire Police about the circles.

Speaking to the Chippenham News from his Los Angeles office, Mr Newnam said: "We felt everybody had done the same thing before us when they made documentaries about crop circles.

"We thought we could do a bit better by telling the history of all the people caught up in the phenomenon.

"For an American to spend several weeks in Wiltshire was just ideal.

"We don't have anywhere like this it is an amazing place.

"Crop circles really are part of your history, they are just fascinating."

Wiltshire has become a Mecca for crop circle enthusiasts after scores have appeared near Cherhill, Alton Barnes and Avebury.

Charles Mallet, the owner of the Silent Circle Caf near Calne featured in the documentary, has been intrigued by the phenomenon for nine years .He moved to Wiltshire from north Devon specifically to follow his interest in the circles and his caf is a meeting place for fans from all over the world.

He said: "It is a very professionally-made documentary covering most aspects of what it is all about.

"The problem is it focuses too much on the hoaxers and to me that is not that interesting when you consider all the other amazing aspects of crop circles.

"There is something really magic about this land."

The DVD has received widespread praise since its release. One review posted on the internet read: "CircleSpeak is without a doubt the best documentary I've seen about the crop formations that have been appearing in agricultural fields for decades now.

"Besides being beautifully photographed, this film presents the most objective and balanced exploration of the cereal phenomenon."

The film is available from the Silent Circle Caf and at www.circlespeak.com