Metal Detecting

Correct it been like that for a while.

The Magic map for free is the way Natural England have chosen to go.

Happy Hunting,

Jerry.

Is the foreshore map available on MagicMap, and if so, what category is it under?


EDIT - Oooh! Just seen the new interactive (or zoomable!) foreshore map on the Crown Estate page - thats certainly a lot better than the old map was!

Unfortunately Adam17 quoted a post that is in several parts nolonger valid due to changes since it was put up.

Most of this has been covered but putting everything together -

The Crown Estate Metal detecting page is now https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/rural- ... detecting/

You no longer need a permit, but must agree to and follow their T&Cs.
The page also contains information on the permisions and finds.
Remember the Crown Estate pemission only covers the area between mean high and low water marks, sand dunes and such behind the beach are NEVER covered (and are also often protected).


There is now a nice interactive (with search and zoom) map at https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/rural- ... tuary-map/
(this replaces the old maps which have been removed so anybody with links to those need to change them .... no prizes for guessing who got caught by this the other week!)

You should also be aware that some of these beaches might have been leased out, eg to the National Trust (who never give metal detecting permission), or local councils (who might or might not give permission), while others might be protected by SSSIs which do not allow detecting so just because a beach is shown on the map as being Crown Estate it does not always mean that you can detect on them (although the vast majority you can).

For the Thames estuary see jcmaloney's post a few above this.

Evan

On the foreshore map it shows stretches of river, how far from the waters edge does it say you can come in or doesn't it ?

heath wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 1:47 pm On the foreshore map it shows stretches of river, how far from the waters edge does it say you can come in or doesn't it ?

As I said above "the Crown Estate pemission only covers the area between mean high and low water marks", this applies on estuaries and tidal rivers the same as it would on beaches - so on a river you are restricted to a narrow strip of bank that is buried at high tide.
There is also the potential situation where the river goes through a channel with vertical walls so the high water mark is direcetly above the low water mark but higher up the wall
Unlike a beach where access is normally easy on a river it would be across private land - so unless you get the landowners permission it would look very dodgy walking across his fields with a metal detector !!!.
There could also be issues if there is fishing on the river - a bit back somebody asked about detecting a river as it showed on the Crown Estate map (the Ribble???) and it was pointed out that it was a salmon river where fishing cost hundreds of pounds a day so the response from the anglers to metal detecting could be imagined.
Finally, stating the obvious many river banks near the coast are part of the flood defence system so should not be dug.

IMHO if its a river you are better off trying to get the adjacent landowners permission or just forget it.

Evan

OK, so Im looking at the map, which shows coastline and rivers, some of which is highlighted in a pink / purple color. So where can you go metal detecting? It doesn't say if the highlighted areas are 'no go areas' or areas where detecting is permitted

The Pink / Purple areas are the parts owned by the Crown Estate.

Normally, but not always, these are areas that you can detect. However, some parts of the Crown Estate foreshore are leased out, these are mainly the ones in coastal resorts so double check locally, while others might be covered by SSSIs that ban metal detecting (check on magic maps http://www.magic.gov.uk/ )

Evan

Thanks Evan,

Interesting how the Magic map shows 'High Spatial Priority' areas of woodland around my village that have been bulldozed for housing

Saffron wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2018 3:38 pm The Pink / Purple areas are the parts owned by the Crown Estate.

Normally, but not always, these are areas that you can detect. However, some parts of the Crown Estate foreshore are leased out, these are mainly the ones in coastal resorts so double check locally, while others might be covered by SSSIs that ban metal detecting (check on magic maps http://www.magic.gov.uk/ )

Evan

The Pink / Purple areas are the parts owned by the Crown Estate.

Normally, but not always, these are areas that you can detect. However, some parts of the Crown Estate foreshore are leased out, these are mainly the ones in coastal resorts so double check locally, while others might be covered by SSSIs that ban metal detecting (check on magic maps http://www.magic.gov.uk/ )

Evan
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Yep Evan as I understand it the purply bits are usually detectable, but since there is no longer any licensing mechanism in place, does it really matter what the map shows? As you say however, always check with the local council's policy before detecting. I've only done a few beaches, but the specific local authority policies I've investigated indicate that detecting between mean high and low tide levels is acceptable (or at least not prohibited). I've never been challenged by the patrolling afficionados in their beach buggies / 4x4s anyway. As you also say, make sure it's not National Trust.

SSSIs - there have been a few posts here fairly recently - if you know of an SSSI on or close to the beach you want to detect, it does seem from previous posts that Natural England have no objections in principle to metal detecting, as long as you don't disturb the indigenous flora and fauna - i.e. don't dig up possibly rare plants, scare the wading birds, etc.

Phil

I have been given permission to MD on a beach SSSI, with a list of things to be wary off. Very fair I believe Natural England to be, an intelligent approach, unlike many councils.

Reponses in red

Phil2401 wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:12 pm
< Cut >

Yep Evan as I understand it the purply bits are usually detectable, but since there is no longer any licensing mechanism in place, does it really matter what the map shows?

Yes it does matter, as the foreshore not marked in purple do not belong to the Crown Estate therefore to detect these areas you need permission from the owner

As you say however, always check with the local council's policy before detecting. I've only done a few beaches, but the specific local authority policies I've investigated indicate that detecting between mean high and low tide levels is acceptable (or at least not prohibited). I've never been challenged by the patrolling afficionados in their beach buggies / 4x4s anyway. As you also say, make sure it's not National Trust.

Sadly as always there is no defintive rule, in most cases its OK but some councils / authorities do not allow it. A couple of beaches I sometimes detect (Crown Estate) have 4x4 patrols and they never seem to bother. Like you say always check first

SSSIs - there have been a few posts here fairly recently - if you know of an SSSI on or close to the beach you want to detect, it does seem from previous posts that Natural England have no objections in principle to metal detecting, as long as you don't disturb the indigenous flora and fauna - i.e. don't dig up possibly rare plants, scare the wading birds, etc.

Normally its OK but I have seen at least one where metal detecting is banned. Also as the Crown Estate permit ony covers between the mean high and low water marks, flora (plants vice girls of that name) should not be a problem, but disturbing birds can be an issue especially at nesting time

Phil