Midland Metal Detecting Club

Supporting the Metal Detecting Community.

The MMDC Club promotes responsible Metal Detecting, Remember that when you are out with your metal detector it's important to maintain good reputation as you are an ambassador for the hobby, even though club rallies are intended to be of a relaxed nature, It's also important to follow the Club Rules and show respect for the Land owner, Other People in the local community and the Countryside. Here's our code of conduct:

1. Always get written permission from the landowner for the area you wish the search. Get a form here.

2. Always follow and fully understand the Treasure Act legislation while Metal Detecting, Remember you must declare any Treasure finds within the legal time frame of 14 days from the time of discovery to the Coroner and inform your local Finds Liaison Officer. Any find that may be over 300 years old should be shown to the portable antiquities scheme for recording purposes.

3. Always gain Civil Liability Insurance before Metal Detecting on Private Land.

4. Always follow the Countryside Code.

5. Never take a Metal Detector on Scheduled Monuments or Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

6. Always be courteous to others who attend club digs and people in the local community.

7. Always leave the ground in the same condition you find it, fill holes and repair grass work.

8. All detectorists who attend digs must wear a finds pouch or bag, to collect your good finds, Scrap and rubbish.

9. Archaeological discoveries will be reported to the landowner in the first instance. The information will then be passed on to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, local museum or archaeological body providing the landowner agrees.

10. Remove all Rubbish and Junk from your search area for disposal in bins provided.

11. Report any finds of live ammunition and lethal objects to the nearest police station.

12. Do not attempt to remove or tamper with any signs, fencing or farm equipment.

13. In the event of finding farming equipment, try to leave it in a safe location near a gate post.

14. All members are responsible for their guests: inform them of the Clubs Code of Conduct.

15. Most land owners have an interest in what you have found, show them your finds and remember they only give you permission to search. All Treasure rewards should be shared equally between the finder and the landowner. The value of all non-treasure finds should be split as agreed in the search permission contract.

16. Do not scare any live stock, no dogs near sheep; always leave gates as you found them.

17. Smokers take care on stubble fields! Smoking may be banned in some search areas.

18. We expect a certain amount of cooperation if a member starts to excavate a potential hoard, it's not a free for all! Help fence off the area, take photos and ask the finder if they need assistance. Call an Organiser / Committee member for help. The find belongs to him and the landowner alone.

19. All searcher's shall comply with any special conditions set out by the landowner.

20. Landowners reserve the rights to terminate rallies at any point without reason, rally funds none refundable.

21. All rally attendees must pay the applicable rally fee and sign the club rules agreement on the rally attendance register on the rally day to gain entrance.

22. Members failing to comply with the MMDC clubs Terms and Conditions will be permanently banned from the club.

Rules amended 19.03.13