Like the old saying says. There's good news and there's bad news, so which do you want to hear first? Perhaps the good to take the edge off things would be best to start with. Forest Enterprises who are the agency that now operates The Forestry Commission are from August the first supplying their managers with a unified access permit for those managers who allow metal detecting to take place in their particular bit of forest. This is a good thing because some managers did not even know that they could allow detecting if they wanted to! Their last letter to us can be found here – Forestry letter.

The first item of potentially bad news is that the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (which has been around for several years) has suddenly developed teeth. Take a look at this website to get the full picture – MAFF - FID is currently finding out what avenues are open to us gain some kind of common sense compromise. It might very well be helpful if individual detectorists were to do a bit of lobbying on their own account, in fact a few have already started by contacting their MP's and asking why our hobby is being singled out when others that are far more hazardous to the environment are not.

Item two concerns a rumor that a meeting recently took place of archaeologists, museum staff, the aim being to promote a 'Bill' in the autumn with aim of outlawing the private collection of antiquities. It has been alleged that among the speakers a 'so called' TV personality (known for extreme left wing views) openly described detectorists in very derogatory terms. We all need to keep our eyes peeled and ears open on this one because should it prove to be true we will need to fight against it's introduction with every possible means.
Are we being 'ripped off' for the latest comments see our featured letter on the opinions page.


Let us hope that wise councils win the day and that there will be a future for the 'worlds greatest hobby' without further restrictions and constraints.