Oxford - strange Google earth land carvings

[Wait Here Until Green Light Shows]

I wasn't sure where to put this...but I suppose it might be science related?
What on earth is going on in these Oxford fields?
I actually drive past these every day - and from the road there's nothing to see. They're just scraped into the mud, but they all have link tracks. I was thinking maybe they're taking turf, but the grass is pretty overgrown and they seem to be in some sort of order?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7105755,-1.20570...

[louiebaby]

<puts on tinfoil hat>

[SantaBarbara]

Who owns the land please?

[Wait Here Until Green Light Shows]

It's a spaceship park isn't it?!

[anonymous-user]

Is it to do with preparing or surveying land that’s going to be built on?

Some fields north of me had that a few years ago and then loads of houses were built on them.

[randlemarcus]

Drainage being put into the field so it doesnt get boggy?

[Wait Here Until Green Light Shows]

El stovey said:

Is it to do with preparing or surveying land that’s going to be built on?

Some fields north of me had that a few years ago and then loads of houses were built on them.

Bingo - thanks

http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/plans-for-new...

[outnumbered]

Nice location right next to the sewage works...

[Buzz84]

https://goo.gl/maps/GYiMxHZwyH32

same things happened right outside Crawley, right where they are now building a housing estate. though it used to be a landfill (building waste, rubble and soil), so wasn't sure it if was related to that

[CAPP0]

outnumbered said:

Nice location right next to the sewage works...

I know Blackbird Leys is a bit rough but that's quite harsh!

[anonymous-user]

Buzz84 said:

https://goo.gl/maps/GYiMxHZwyH32

same things happened right outside Crawley, right where they are now building a housing estate. though it used to be a landfill (building waste, rubble and soil), so wasn't sure it if was related to that

And up near manor royal and another sewage works.

[fuzzyyo]

They're archaeology trenches. Most major developments now have to provide an archaeological report as part of the planning process.