Curious to know the main reason?

rodp

Member
I'm not a farmer, but I'm very often on a farm because of work and pastimes, and to be honest I've not had a problem getting permission for either shooting (night shooting foxes mainly) or metal detecting (occasionally).
But, it would appear many others do have problems getting "permissions", which leads to this question, and it's purely out of curiosity.
What would you say is the single most common reason for a farmer to refuse someone permission to metal detect? (Shooting I can understand, anyone would be wary of a stranger roaming around close to home with a high velocity firearm). But metal detecting isn't really high risk, so curious to know the main reason for refusal of permission? (And be honest, even if it's just "don't want numbskulls wandering around");)
 

Nearly

Member
Location
North of York
Rather have 'their' treasure trove stay under their soil than risk missing out on 50% share if detector says they found it in their back garden.

I've a man come here that I trust and it will take him a lifetime to cover the farm.
It helps that he MOT's my cars too. ;)

My Grandad lost a hammer in the 4 acre and I want it back. ;)
 
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DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Because people take liberties.
“Is it just yourself?”
“Yes.”
“That’s alright then.”
“I hope you don’t mind but I’ve brought Geoff and Steve with me.”
“I’d rather you didn’t walk on the pre emergence sprayed drilling.”
“Don’t worry it won’t harm it.”
Sunday night a truck load of blokes speed in.
“Geoff said you wouldn’t mind.”
And then next weekend your sheds get done over.
And then you have the awkwardness of telling them all not to come back, ever.
Unless known personally to you, you have really no idea who you are letting on and what they are up to, unfortunately. Then there’s insurance and liabilities….. and that fact it’s private property not open house.
 
I have been metal detecting and looking into our local history for over 40 years and the thought of a stranger taking objects away without any knowledge of or connection to the farm really upsets me as it is like a personal loss.
Obviously not everyone is interested in their own land, but quite a few local farmers are either detectorists on the quiet, have family members who are, or study local archaeology.
With my Archae. hat on, we have been involved in a lot of geophys surveying on farms around the area, and we have to obtain permission like anyone else. Usually, other farmers are keen enough on what we are doing, but have reservations about us publishing the findings because it either encourages nighthawkers or could lead to officialdom taking an interest and listing features, so it can be easier to say no.
And with my farmer hat on, I find it very hard to stop things going on once permission has been given so it can be easier to say no from the start. As dad used to say, no good deed goes unpunished.
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Think about it, there's tens of millions of people living in urban areas, and there's about 150k farmers, nationwide. Chances are every farmer who doesn't mind detectorists will already have someone down as 'their' detector guy. It'll be someone who they know well and trust. Even if they don't have anyone who detects on their land, someone who turns up at the door is an unknown quantity. Its a relationship that requires high trust, randoms turning up on the doorstep are never going to be given the go-ahead.
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I have one local who detects, and who works for a sprayer repair company ie useful
I also let an organised group come once a year.

Helpful hint - want to do some detecting? Join an orgnaised group of detectorists.

Not being harsh, but if someone wants to enjoy my land they can pay for it in cash or kind. There are few hobbies you can enjoy for under £20 a day.
 
A lot of folks seem happy to spend at least £1000 on the latest must have detector and all the gear but have the idea that they should then be entitled to somewhere to use it for free. In fact, of course, the land itself is by far the most important part of the equation and if we are paying the farm off at £10 or 15 grand an acre, why should we subsidise other folks' hobbies?
Also, I often hear local farmers saying "I had a detectorist round but he never found anything" but having searched here for years with 1970s technology, it seems unlikely that all these people are really finding nothing as I have amassed a fair collection of artefacts even though we are not in the most exciting spot.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Because people take liberties.
“Is it just yourself?”
“Yes.”
“That’s alright then.”
“I hope you don’t mind but I’ve brought Geoff and Steve with me.”
“I’d rather you didn’t walk on the pre emergence sprayed drilling.”
“Don’t worry it won’t harm it.”
Sunday night a truck load of blokes speed in.
“Geoff said you wouldn’t mind.”
And then next weekend your sheds get done over.
And then you have the awkwardness of telling them all not to come back, ever.
Unless known personally to you, you have really no idea who you are letting on and what they are up to, unfortunately. Then there’s insurance and liabilities….. and that fact it’s private property not open house.
And Geoff and steve think they have permission to come without the original person you said could , they bring a mate each who then thinks they have permission too etc etc. These people have no idea about climbing gates at the hinge end or not to ruin fences climbing them or see they are scaring the livestock sh.itless . They havent a clue about shutting gates correctly etc. Its easier to just be the grumpy farmer and say No.
 
I usually used to let detectorists access our ground, well, the seemingly genuine ones,anyway, with the proviso that I got to see everything that they found. Then a couple of lads who'd been a few times found several small silver coins, just as it was going dark. They came and showed me and asked if they could come back the next day, to search that area more thoroughly. Of course, I agreed, but sadly next morning revealed the fact that they must've come back during the night and dug the area to feck:mad::mad::mad:. So in answer to the OP, that is why it is difficult to get permissions. To be honest, I struggle a bit with the idea that someone without anywhere of their own to use one, would get a metal detector.
 

nick...

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
south norfolk
As far as I’m concerned I get sick of people taking liberties.had a pigeon shooter who was told not to drive on margins but he drove round the whole farm pretty much and when questioned he said I did not think it’s doing any harm.had another who shot a pheasant,just for the pot despite being told pigeons only.neither of those two still come.coukd right a book on those taking liberties but most get a firm no these days.had someone metal detecting years ago,he was a JP and he found a gold thing and he offered it to my dad who intended to get it made into something fir my mum.the chap took it away to clean and do some investigation on it and when he came next time he denied ever having it despite showing me and my father .i know not everyone is the same but I seem to get em all here so they all get a polite NO.
nick...
 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
We allowed someone to detect once. Found some interesting things, that had context with the property. Went off with them, never to be seen again. His widow stuck all the finds on ebay apparently............:X3:
Shooters...........as said take liberties. Mates turn up. Mates of mates turn up. Nephews of mates of mates turn up...............
Ramblers.............AKA trespassing scum......
And so on........
 

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