Beach detectorists not welcome?

[Saffron]

I am seeing the following "Closed" type messages from a lot of "tourist hotspots", especially those on the coast.

Basically they are saying that with things like cafes, toilets and often car parks closed they are not in a position to deal with an influx of visitors, especially as there is still the risk of spreading the virus.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) have said
"We are increasing people’s access to local, outdoor physical activity for the purpose of wellbeing."

That is the message being repeated by the NCMD.

So something to consider if you were thinking of travelling any distance to detect a beach.

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[andy1973]

I work in Weston, and to be honest people are worried that there will be a mass of people come down on the weekend

[Shep]

I work in Weston, and to be honest people are worried that there will be a mass of people come down on the weekend

It's the same here, our medical infrastructure is not well adjusted to cope with any influx of visitors and any potential viruses that they might bring along with them. We only had 11 ICU beds for the Gwynedd area the thought of thousands of visitors escaping to our beaches bought fear with it.

[Oxgirl36]

I have to say I am shocked the government has allowed unrestricted travel.

We should be respectful of local seaside communities and only go detecting on a beach if we live locally. It’s common sense to ask - ‘am I a risk to others and are others a risk to me?’ and let that guide your decisions.

Same with land choice - I’m sticking to local permissions with no gates and checking if any farmers or farm worker’s will be around.

Engage brain and stop and think before just running of to do what we like

[Paul23]

Good advice Oxgirl. I can understand people's enthusiasm running away with its self, but we must all think before we act. Unfortunately we are now living in a different environment.
Due to my health issues, I am still only going out once a day, but sadly not detecting.
Good luck to all those who go out and enjoy the hobby sensibly, I look forward to the finds.
Ever thought of becoming PM Oxgirl?
Paul.

[Jamesey1981]

To be honest an influx of beach detectorists on my local beach wouldn't make any difference to the numbers even if every active member of the forum turned up to detect, we are very few in number compared to the bucket and spade brigade that come down from London.

I only detect beaches when low tide is an early one, as I don't want to be on a busy beach anyway, if I'm detecting I'd rather be on a beach that only has detectorists and dog walkers on it, and those crazy people that go swimming at 6am, (does every beach have those or just mine?)

If I want to visit a beach and do beach stuff that isn't detecting I drive away from my local one, it gets far too crowded on a decent day at the best of times, a two mile trip along the coast gets me to a beach that's cleaner, quieter and has some rock pools to rummage in, and I can still get chips and ice cream.

[Jamesey1981]

I can't stand kids trying to join in while I'm detecting, I'm nice but really I'm just there for some peace and quiet.

I find it hilarious when dogs join in with my digging though, a couple of times I've been hunting for a target that's disappeared from the hole, and found it in the spoil behind the dog that's joined in!

I prefer dogs to children though.

[Blackadder43]

I live a few miles away from Weston
Our area has one of the lowest levels of infections, one of the lowest death rates

And this weekend they opened the floodgates for everyone to travel as far as they want to exercise...

The reality for us living in these seaside towns is we are now going to be swarmed by people, potentially carrying covid (you can carry with zero symptoms)
So, we are now potentially going to see our infection rates and god forbid death rates rise

Already though people are here in their caravans and motorhomes, and started coming in from sunday
I am still at home because i have to stay at home, we still get stuff delivered to us by kind relatives and friends

Our town usually welcomes all visitors with open arms, without visitors our towns would close down
But, at this moment in time i personally would rather you didnt visit us....please

[Wuntbedruv]

I have to say I am shocked the government has allowed unrestricted travel.

We should be respectful of local seaside communities and only go detecting on a beach if we live locally. It’s common sense to ask - ‘am I a risk to others and are others a risk to me?’ and let that guide your decisions.

Same with land choice - I’m sticking to local permissions with no gates and checking if any farmers or farm worker’s will be around.

Engage brain and stop and think before just running of to do what we like

Agreed. Unlimited exercise I was fine with, driving a short distance to get exercise fine. Unlimited driving to another part of the country? Big mistake.

EDIT: however, now I think about it I do actually understand. The virus spreads far less virulently outdoors so I suppose that was a deciding factor....hence why most shops and businesses are still shut.

[AndyM]

Oi Mate, Oi Mate you found any fink, Oi Mate Oi Mate thats my 10p, Oi Mate Oi Mister found the treasure yet, Oi Mate Oi Mate if its gold its mine I dropped it, Ha Ha Ha.

I take the hearts and minds approach with genuinely interested people, yeah I push my false teeth forward and hang them out, cross my eyes, dribble and walk with a limp, if they have genuine questions I will always answer with, have you heard the good news about Jesus.

No I dont do any of that actually, well not since I was released anyway.

[Saffron]

Lots of good feedback, thanks folks.

Especially interesting to hear from those that are near beaches, so are both detectorists and will be on the "receiving end" of any influx of tourists.
I am on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, and even when the "Stay home" message was in place the police were finding people from London, Birmingham and other cities that had drivenfor over 2 hours to local beauty spots (and rightly fined them and sent them back home ). So now the rules have been relaxed people will obviously travel more.

I had to smile when we were told "Only go where you can go there and back in the day". I have driven to Kelso and back in the day, over 620 miles and 11 hours driving for the round trip. So its not exactly limiting.

As always Oxgirl is giving good advice, so if anybody is thinking of beach detecting can they please re-read her post before deciding to go or not.

Additionally when beach detecting it has always been good practice to only detect early morning and late evening when the beaches are quieter. This is even more important now.

Evan

[Keef the Frog]

The famed golden beaches of the Vendée are now open but only for promenading, no sitting about bronzing.
We're limited to a travel radius of 100km which would get me to Nantes, Poitiers & La Rochelle.
The head honcho of the local detecting group posted a video of my fave fossilling spot yesterday & there were no takers, he was completely on his tod.