My Message to
our Farmers
MY PERSONAL CODE OF CONDUCT
1. Respect the Landowners right to say No
2. Ask permission each time you intend to visit and find out what fields are available. Never detect a field unless you have been given express permission to detect it at that time.
3. Always fill in any holes that are dug and leave them as tidy and clean as possible
4. Always remove any scrap metal that is found from the field
5. Let the farmer know what items of interest has been found
6. Make an agreement with the farmer regarding any items of high value that are found and ensure each party understands the agreement to divide any proceeds 50/50
7. Respect the land and property. Look after any livestock encountered. Always respect the country code and close gates, do not damage crops, frighten animals or disturb nesting birds.
8. Ensure that you are covered by Public Liability Insurance to a minimum of £10,000,000
9. Give the opportunity to the farmer or his family to go out metal detecting with you. Offer the facility of a spare metal detector and equipment to be used. Farmers are busy people however their children or grandchildren may wish to explore the land.
10. Appreciate the gift of being allowed on someone else's property
and never forget you are a guest.
Without the support of our farmers, the hobby of Metal Detecting would be non existent and that is an absolute fact. So why should a farmer give permission for someone, whether it be an individual or a small group or a club to wander over their land. To be honest I'm not sure that I would be too keen on strangers wandering around property I owned.
This may seem an odd way to start a section that I hope would encourage any farmer that I have written a letter to in allowing me to have permission to metal detect on their land. As someone who lives on a farm I can fully appreciate that point of view and its an honest observation.
However, I am hoping that anyone who has received a letter from me and has taken the time and trouble to read it will visit this page and be a little bit encouraged by what they read. I am also hoping that it may lead to an opportunity to speak face to face at a time and place convenient to them.
Many detectorists simply role up to a farm and confront the farmer and ask for permission. Personally I find it difficult to do that as farmers being busy people may not have the time or inclination to agree to allowing their land to be used by a complete stranger at a time when it may not be convenient to them.
I prefer to write a formal letter enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope. If the farmer is not inclined to allow me to use their land they can either ignore the letter or if they choose simply write No on the enclosed form and return it to me.
If there is a possibility that they may be encouraged to say Yes, then I hope that they will visit this page, and consider returning my letter with a contact phone number or email address giving a time and date when I can present myself to them in person.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO A FARMER
1. All scrap metal dug up from the fields from any fields used will be removed from the farm.
2. The opportunity to learn more about the history of their farm
3. Allowing bona fide detectorists on the land often deters Nighthawkers (metal detectorists who do not follow a code of
conduct and plunder farmland without permission, often during the hours of darkness)
4. They are contributing to the knowledge of the history of Britain
5. The possibility that something may be found that has considerable value. Metal detecting finds over the years run into millions of pounds
6. Metal detectorists will always be willing to assist the farmer in
searching for lost items which may include personal possessions such as keys or parts of farm machinery that needs recovering
7. An extra pair of eyes around the farm looking out for trespassers or thieves.
8. The farmer knows the background of who is on their land and can satisfy themselves that they are comfortable allowing them access.
9. The opportunity for the farmer or his family to go out metal detecting Most detectorists have a spare metal detector and equipment that can be loaned. The Farmers children or grandchildren may wish to explore the land. It is a wonderful way to learn our history.
10. Access to personal skills that the detectorist possess, in my case knowledge of the law & dog training.