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 as we know it would be non existent. It's perfectly understandable why many farmers are not too keen to allow perfect strangers to wander around their land. That is in my opinion a perfectly reasonable position to take. That is why as a detectorist, when I am lucky enough to get permission to search on a farmers fields I work very hard to build up a relationship and trust.
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, however as someone who lives on a farm I can fully appreciate that point of view.
Many detectorists turn up at a farm and confront the farmer to ask for permission to metal detect. Personally I find it difficult to do that, maybe its an age thing but I was brought up in an era where you don't just turn up and interrupt someone's working or private life. Farmers are busy people and may not have the time or inclination to deal with an opportunist turning up out of the blue.
I prefer to write a formal letter enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope. If the farmer is not inclined to allow me to metal detect on their land they can either ignore the letter or simply write No on the enclosed form and return it to me (that way I know not to bother them again).
I am hoping that any landowner who has received a letter from me and has been good enough to read it will visit this page and be a little bit encouraged by what they read. I also hope that it may lead to an opportunity to speak to them face to face at a time and place convenient to them (with no obligation on their part to say yes).
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. Farm thefts of everything from Diesel to Animals is on the increase.
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.