Pranksters & Hoaxers

Botley 2006

 

Botley — diagram overview

Wiltshire — England
Botley

Discovered on 30 May 2006

Photos taken by William on 3 June 2006

Aerial photographs not available on the usual websites.

Sketch by William

Sketch by William — Botley, 3 June 2006

THE FIRST TESTS IN OILSEED RAPE AFTER THE 2005 FORMATION

Here are the only on-the-ground photos of a crop circle spotted around 30 May 2006 in England. After trying unsuccessfully to enter this field on 31 May, William went back on Saturday, 3 June 2006 to document the formation. The conclusion was immediate: this formation was made with boards and string. The damage is considerable: stems in disarray, completely broken at the base. Was it a team of amateur hoaxers who didn’t know how to proceed? Or a result made worse by over-mature rapeseed with very brittle stems?

In 2005, we photographed the Golden Ball Hill crop circle in situ, one day after it appeared. We observed a remarkably clean site, with neatly arranged, bent stems and intact, upright flowers (the lay). Below is a thumbnail from a photo taken at Golden Ball Hill in 2005, to compare with what we found at Botley in 2006.

SEE THE FULL OILSEED RAPE DOSSIER — Other photo galleries of rape formations made with boards… or not.

Golden Ball Hill 2005

Photos taken 31st May 2006

Zoom from field edge — 31 May 2006


(1) Zoom photo taken from the edge of the field, 31st May 2006. Difficult to enter the field due to the proximity of the farm and thick, thorny hedges.

Pole shot from field edge

(2) Pole shot taken from the edge of the field, 31st May.

Detail — broken stems in the formation

(3) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Detail — broken stems (variant)

(4) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Detail — broken stems (close view)

(5) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Detail — broken stems (another angle)

(6) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Detail — multiple stem breaks

(7) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Detail — stem breaks (comparison)

(8) Details of broken stems which were found everywhere in the formation. No abnormally bent stems were found.

Centre of the middle circle

(9) The centre of the smaller middle circle.

Centre of the middle circle (variant)

(10) The centre of the smaller middle circle.

Rings — detail of the layout

(11) The rings.

Stems flattened in opposite directions

(12) The stems have been flattened in opposite directions (see drawing at the top of the page).

Tuft in the centre — view toward the farm

(13) The furthest of the larger circles showing a central tuft. Note the farm roofs behind.

Botley — detail view

(14) General view of the Botley formation.

Botley — additional detail

(15) Additional detail of the Botley formation.

2006 / 2025 – Credits

William Betts: Gallery photos and their captions

Anne L.: Updated introductory texts* (except those attributed to William)

Note regarding the texts*: The use of we is a literary device and should not be interpreted as a personal designation.