Dear Fellow Landowners,

According to detectorist Charliechap this week the way to ask us for permission is to …

“Call in the farm in person , dressed smart , be polite , never mention money,contracts,pas,treasure trove,insurance,50/50 split…or anything like that, that can come later… mention history is your interest. All your wanting is to make a good impression and secure the permission . And leave it as that . Shake his hand, thank him and go home . Once this is done, you can bring in the other things on future meetings”.

So don’t tell them what you’re after. Or anything to do with responsible detecting.

And his colleague chips in …

“You have to be a “salesman”.
Approaching that farmer can be tricky, they don’t tend to suffer fools gladly and their initial impression of you is critical. Big beaming smile like your a long lost pal, no awkward girly steps across the farmyard, you need to look like you belong in the country, if you look like the environment is alien to you, the farmer won’t want you there.
I always find downplaying the area helps too. The farmer will naturally be on his guard as some randomer approaches wanting something from him. You’re don’t expect to find anything in such a place you just thought you’d ask as you where passing. This can be a moment to try and pull at the heart strings, that you have this harmless little old hobby and nobody will let you play

Once you’ve been given the go ahead, don’t let the farmer see you digging every time he passes, start your hunting where you know he’s least likely to spend time his time. You start making plug holes near his house while imposing yourself in his immediate vicinity and he might tell you today is just a one off.
Basically you kiss his arse until you become more acquainted and a regular sight on his land without him knowing your doing it.“

You might consider if you want anyone like that on your land.

Regards,

Silas Brown, Grunters Hollow, Worfield

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More Heritage Journal views on artefact collecting
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