On the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England, a tale has been spun for ages about the curious collection of circles garnered on the green fields of Brading Down. They’re known as the Brading Down Fairy Rings. Legends suggest that the unassuming rings appearing on the grass are the handiwork of fairies who come out to dance and play when the moon is at its brightest and humans are safely tucked away. These frolicking fairies, it is told, twirl so energetically and merrily that their feet press into the earth and create rings that stay behind as a ghostly dance floor. The rings would be seen at dawn, allowing the islanders to recollect the magical tales of the fairy folk. It is also said that anyone who steps into the ring while the fairies are dancing become invisible to those outside the ring and are compelled to dance non-stop, trapped until fairy-dancing ceases at dawn. But the fairies of Brading Down weren’t just playful spirits. They also bore a different, darker aspect as well. It was thought they would steal away babies from their cribs and replace them with their own fairy progeny – a changeling. Over the years, these fables about the fairy rings have served as cautionary tales to ensure children never stray into unusual rings on the grass, at the risk of being spirited away into the fairy world. However, also considered as bringers of luck, the sight of a fairy ring was welcomed by many who took it as a sign of good fortune forthcoming. The fairy rings of Brading Down still exist, much to the wonderment of locals and visitors, continuing to captivate the imaginations of young and old alike, being an integral part of the mystical folklore of this English island.