CROP CIRCLES are coming to Penrith, with an upcoming seminar by Megan Heazlewood.

Crop circle expert Megan Heazlewood will hold a seminar on the phenomenon in Penrith this month.

The Hazelbrook resident, who has spent nearly two-decades following the controversial international phenomenon, can remember clearly the first time she saw pictures of crop circles; large-scale circular or geometric patterns which are etched in wheat, barley or other crop fields.

“I was absolutely stunned by the beauty, complexity and laser-like precision of them,” Ms Heazlewood said.

Debate has raged over who — or what — creates crop circles.

“I was very curious that they could be created overnight; and I just had to know more … as an artist, it was the art that drew me in.”

Ms Heazlewood made a hobby of studying the global marvels, 12,000 of which are archived on the Crop Circle Connector website.

The theatre nurse at Nepean Hospital also regularly travels within Australia and internationally to witness the large-scale formations.

Despite a mainstream scientific consensus on crop circles as man-made hoaxes, she keeps an open mind and has collected a number of first-hand testimonials of UFO sightings and other strange occurrences.

The term ‘crop circle’ was coined in the 1980s following a spike in reports.

During her travels to Wiltshire in the UK, she joined other enthusiasts camping in an area renowned for the circular sensations:“ When I awoke in the morning there was brilliant new circle at the foot of the hill,” she said. “Although I’d heard nothing … the other campers said they saw a UFO and four military helicopters.”

The seminar will be held at Penrith Library Theatrette on Sunday, July 15 from 10am.