It has arrived - the first crop circle of the year! Lying between Crewkerne and Mere, just off the A303, it appears that it may have been there for some time as the flattened crop inside the circle is rising up. This image was taken by Nick Bull and he has kindly allowed me to put up it on my web site. Some people may have been worrying that the circles had left us but in 2013 we did not see a crop circle until the 2nd June in East Field, nr. Alton Priors, Wiltshire.
Once we get our first circle more seem to follow quite quickly, so will this happen this year?
Spring is really with us after another spell of gloriously warm weather. I have been driving down the little Sussex lanes, some so narrow that it is impossible to even open the car door to get out, so I take my pictures from an open window. Clumps of bluebells, ragged robin, stitchwort, primroses, and violets — what a joy!
There is nothing like a walk in the countryside to allow one's thoughts to see the world in a different light; a calm and peaceful place where nature reigns supreme; thus for a moment allowing oneself to came terms with life and all its ups and downs. To breathe the clean fresh air, to listen to the birdsong all around and the gurgling of the streams as they wend their serene way, ever going with the flow. I was brought up in the country and would find myself quite out of tune and breathless were I to live anywhere else for long periods of time.
In a previous letter, I wrote a little bit about the treasures found on Petersfield Heath. Twenty-one Barrows have been found, but, due to the cost and time only two have been excavated. The others consist of a mixture of different types of barrows.
Burial urn found on Petersfield Heath
May 19, 2016 | by Katherine West
'In this fourth season of excavations on Petersfield Heath two of the three sites excavated had points of particular interest. The most exciting find is a presumed burial urn found under Barrow 8 close to its centre. The urn was placed in a tightly fitting pit, and the archaeologists and volunteers had to painstakingly excavate it and lift it complete with its contents for laboratory micro-excavation. Its full story will only be revealed over the coming months, but it is already clear that it is a Collared Urn, a ceramic type dating roughly to 2000 – 1500 BC. Collared Urn burials are not uncommon in the Early Bronze Age, but the Barrow 8 example seems to have associated organic objects. These could be further rare and significant finds to add to the mineral - replaced wooden handle from Barrow 13 and the half tree-trunk from Site 24.'
Picture: Stuart Needham
http://www.peopleoftheheath.com/burial-urn-found-petersfield-heath/
This age-old island is full of ancient archaeological treasures many of which are still undiscovered or not yet excavated. Others are well known and frequently visited by people from all over the world such as magnificent Stonehenge, the wondrous stone complex at Avebury, plus the largest and a man mound in Europe Silbury Hill together with a host of other stone circles, mounds and iron age stone forts; ancient tracks and by ways known to our ancestors as they made their way over this sacred isle.
Back to Crop circles and the forthcoming season. What amazing circles will we see and where?
There are a still a few places available on my two tours. The first is on the 24th July with the optional extra of a once in a lifetime private entry visit to Stonehenge in the evening. The second tour, on the 1st August with the optional extra of a flight over the fields and sacred sites after the tour — will be a very special occasion. Please get in touch as soon as possible as the tours are very popular.
Still more excitement, if you would like to come with me and share the costs on one of my helicopter flights. The helicopter takes three people plus the pilot. It is so very helpful to me as the cost of flying, plus continuing with my important research currently focussing on the temporary relief of Parkinson disease, is so enormous that I was not sure if I could continue at all this year.
My love and best wishes,
Lucy.