Speculation continues over Leckhampton Hill leaf mystery

[Swami]

THE dog walker who took this remarkable picture has said she is enjoying the worldwide speculation over its origins.

Freddie Holding was walking her dog on Leckhampton Hill after a December snowfall when she came across a pattern of leaves in the snow.

After rushing home to get her camera, she sent to the photo to the Echo asking for suggestions on how the shapes were made.

The paper – and Freddie – have since been inundated with ideas from around the globe.

Freddie said: "My friends have been talking about it.

"The other day one got a link from a friend in America referring to the picture and I had a Facebook message from a New Yorker who was searching for the photographer who took it.

"It has caused a flurry – I am enjoying it."


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQKT3zsg1TA/TVaSnjeaA5I/AAAAAAAAJwc/ZltAC5bsenE/s1600/UKSnowCirclesGloucestershire020411.jpg

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Speculation-continues-Leckhampton-Hill-leaf-mystery/article-3209761-detail/article.html

[Atlas]

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Revealed: mystery of Leckhampton Hill leaf patterns
By This is Gloucestershire (http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Revealed-mystery-Leckhampton-Hill-leaf-patterns/story-11930789-detail/story.html) - February 15, 2011

http://i.thisis.co.uk/275540/article/images/3220289/1965613-large.jpg

The strange leaf patterns in Cheltenham have been attributed to energy fields from trees, men on yard tractors and even an earthquake.

However, the mystery now appears to be over after a 31-year-old landscape artist known as Pallas Galean came forward to reveal he had created the patterns. The Irish-born landscape architect, who operates using a pseudonym, has confessed he was behind the spectacle.

He was also behind the formation of a person's face out of leaves in Cheltenham's Promenade in November:

http://i.thisis.co.uk/275540/article/images/3220289/1966308-large.jpg

Pallas, who wants to keep his real name a secret, says he has been amused by the theories put forward by intrigued people from around the world. He said:


"It's hilarious. I have had a great laugh.
"I would like to draw a line under this and explain what the philosophy is."

Pallas said the intriguing patterns, which have left people scratching their heads, are the results of some leaf art he has been doing. He said:


"This comes under the term of land art. My background is growing up in a rural environment and appreciating the environment and bringing the creative into my profession as a landscape architect. I have been doing land art for my own pleasure but am in the process of taking it seriously."

The artist said he used to "mess around" creating the art as a child but has only brought it to the streets of Cheltenham in the last year.


"It's seasonal and it's getting the time to do it," he said. "Autumn is great as you have got the leaves and a lot of seasonal ware to play with."