Finding Sites

[reddog694]

Hi All, The problem i face must be a problem everyone faces, Where can i use my detector? We all look at you tube and see people enjoying the hobby all over the world, But here in the U.K there's always a catch. We are disliked by the Archaeological fraternity who consider detecting to be destructive to their profession. We look for but do not find legistlation in place that guarantees our right to pursue our hobby unmolested. In short we may find that we lose our hobby altogether as pressure increases due to anti detector lobbyists present in the Archaeological profession and their seemingly unfettered access to the media and the accompanying ability to sway governmental and public opinion. I may find it necessary to go down the route of lobbying my M.P to get some parity between the rights offered European Citizens And those currently not being enjoyed by us resident in the U.K. It annoys me greatly that we are painted as Nighthawks by organisations in our own country. I have noticed whilst surfing that Detector Clubs and Rallies carry with them a large price tag, And the thought of scanning a field containing pre-planted targets gives me a sick feeling all over, Since this represents the commercialisation of the hobby with the proceeds going away from the hobby and into the pockets of the landowners. There is no permit system in place, If i were an angler i could fish anywhere with the appropriate permit and enjoy my hobby regularly with no hassle whatsoever. Which let's face it, Is where we want to be. Anyone agree or am i just being paranoid?

[TheLoveDoc]

Hallo mate, as long as you have permission to be there mate there shouldnt be a problem. 

[Chef Geoff]

Hi Reddog and welcome to the site,
Just a couple of points about your post. Yes we all face the problem of where to use our detector, but unfortunately there is no other way of getting some land to detect on other than getting out there and asking for it.
The "Archaeologists hate us" problem will go on and on, in reality there are far fewer now that crave our abolition than there were during the "stop" campaign of the 80's, they and we now have the internet and so instead of hearing of there devious plans on a monthly basis from the metal detecting journals, we now get it every day on line and so appears worse.
Those of us who have been detecting longer than is good for us will remember the old "pipe finders license" and that was abolished as unworkable, so a new permit system would be a farce.

Please, please don't write to your MP and ask for the same rights as our European neighbours, as we have the freest system in Europe and in truth they want our system.
Just get out there and enjoy the hobby and good luck.

[outlaw]

I agree with the points raised by Chef,

and also will add a couple of my own.

Your post is worrying, what is wrong with knocking on doors to gain permission ?

I am pretty sure if i came home one evening and found someone tecting in my 5 acre garden, I would be pretty annoyed. ( I am also sure so would farmer phil ! )

We enjoy our own system, by contacting mp's will stir up more problems for us all.

I am not aware of any rally that I have attended of over extortionate fees or anyone planting bogus targets. (people forget it costs money to organise rallies)

It feels like a post designed to inflame further difficulties for the hobby 

[Salty (Karl) Cardiff Scan Club]

Hi Reddog, Its just a matter of Knocking doors and facing rejection, I did it for years when i used to have to find land to shoot on, now I'm starting over again with detecting.
The old saying of "throw enough excrement at a wall, eventually some of it will stick" applies, you may have to knock 30 doors to get one yes, but that one yes will keep you going a long time, and every rejection will bring more experience on how to best pitch your sale, because thats what your doing, is selling yourself and the concept to the farmer.
Don't get disheartened.

As for clubs having a high price tag, not really approx £25 a year including your insurance (this you should have even if you don't join a club) and on average £5 for a days detecting, that someone else has done the hard work of researching and getting permission, that you may possibly find a couple of hammered coins worth in the hundreds if your lucky, seams goods odds and a fair price to me.

BTW, your now a member of Detecting Wales.com, cost= Nil, go and get insurance (FID or NCMD) £5 i think? (i get mine through the my club) and you can come along to one of the DW rallies, entry fee , A fiver, Whatever you find on our rallies was lost in time, the only things planted are the trees and shrubs

[outlaw]

well said Karl

[handyman [Alan}]

At the moment with the dark winter months, and the hype over the staffordhsire hoard, many farmers are being inundated with requests to detect.

regretfully many farms are also being targetted by thieves as the recession bites. many reports of loss of eqpt, stolen gates, stock rustling are now commonplace.

i am not surprised that many farmers are turning down requests from individuals who they don't know at all. Personally i don;t blame them at all.

best chance is to join a local club and hopefully get invited along to their events.

cheers

[zorro]

have to agree with the answer posts. virtually every "archie" ive ever met believes the vast majority of detectorists have a valid input into keeping our nations histroy alive and realise night hawkers are dispised as much by us as by everyone else.
personally i dont think the picture is as black as been painted. A landowner has every right to refuse permission to detectorists, as well as fishermen, to walk over his land. similarly they have every right to allow access.
Reddog perhaps you've had quite a few refusals, trust me you wont be alone in this, but keep trying. once you'vegot the 1 farm then through a good rapore with the farmer you'll pick up more.
not sure how many years you've been detecting but the system we have in this country is pretty good mate, contrary to what some of the tabloid papers will let you believe.

[Salty (Karl) Cardiff Scan Club]

Those are also very valid and poignant points Alan.

I forgot to add, that as a rule, once you get your "farm" it will usually snowball, because if you look after the farmer, he will introduce to the neighbouring farmers,as Alan says, your not coming at them as an unknown stranger then.

[bymatt666 (byron)]

wow ! have you been reading all the adverse publicity printed in the press and other publications !! archeological attitudes are changing weekly, they realise that we are all not nighthawks !! try asking your local farmers for permission and you'll be surprised..of course some are going to say no,for whatever reason they have,but you will get permission soon....all the best...byron