A strange season

[figgis]

Well, that's me largely done for this season, what with ground conditions and crop height banjaxing much if any further detecting. The enforced layoff during the normally productive part of the season was a necessary pain, but I have to say that it made me appreciate what I'd previously thought of as a natural part of life - the freedom to detect.

Looking back, I'd have to say I enjoyed what detecting I was able to do with an added intensity - it was always likely to be snatched away again at short notice , as indeed it was, and by the time the all-clear was given the green stuff was making a nuisance of itself and it was all brought to another, but more natural, halt. Made some great finds, but the pleasure of finding them was actually overshadowed by the pleasure of the opportunity to have made them in the first place. I think I'd been guilty of complacence and it was good to have been reminded, albeit in bad circumstances, of just how good this hobby is for peace of mind.

What would be your review of your season, such as it was?

[alloverover]

Am still going, albeit slowly, last month or so has all been through work, couple of historic houses but not much in the way of finds.
Am at this one at the moment, a priory in Kent, have done the spoil from what we are working on with small returns but there are 50acres of pasture here, I know I can come back but it's a couple of hours travel,,,,,,maybe I will make the trip though

[Kenleyboy]

I have to agree Figgis , very strange season and one filled with not only the anticipation of going but also when it would yet again be taken away from us , make the most of such tentative times . I too missed out on the better part of the land with that area being short lived prior to the crop going in and that was the end of that side of things . However I did still have the rest of the land to go on and despite that never being as productive I certainly made the most of what little time I had left on there and it certainly made me appreciate the better finds so much more and also being able to actually get out and have that much yearned for freedom .
I must admit that it never felt as relaxed as it would have done in different circumstances , no doubt due to the constant upheaval of not knowing when we would next be in lockdown but I certainly savoured the moment of actually being out there and appreciated what some times we can be guilty of taking for granted .

[Oxgirl]

Last year I was going stir crazy in the first lockdown. I had hundreds of prime detectable land and I wasn’t allowed on them. Even worse I was stuck at home with two teenage daughters. For months and months. I am surprised there wasn’t mass murder and flabbergasted that I didn’t explode or get to the summer with an irreversible mental breakdown.

The summer recess saved me. I had new productive land and I took every opportunity to go there. Well between being an unpaid private taxi But I loved it and took every opportunity to savour the wildlife around me, the still quiet roads and the pleasure of being in a beautiful place.

I’ve was on a massive finds roll before Christmas and found it hard going back to twiddling my thumbs in the first bit of the post Christmas lockdown. Once we were allowed on private land again though I was sorted. I am lucky to have a lot of local permissions so could continue where others couldn’t. Even better I went back to land I’d normally ignore and savoured them. And, even better than that, found things! In fact my new favourite field I’ve had for 5 years and rarely visited. This time it was throwing stuff at me, including two triple silver hammie days, and beautiful artefacts too!

I have learnt not to dismiss fields, to savour the ones I have and not to take any of it for granted. I guess we all have!

[Pete E]

I think like most, I found it very hard going during lockdowns, especially when I could not see the scientific justification of some of the restrictions...

Since I stated detecting, I have been fairly lucky to be able to get several permissions in local area none which are bigger than 50 acres with most being nearer 10 acres...I have had a few good finds, but none of my permissions are particularly prolific and I often go weeks before finding something decent.

So from my perspective, one of the main ways the lockdowns and the pandemic impacted me was that it pretty much halted my search for more productive/historic land...Once the vaccination program is more or less completed, I will start knocking on doors again, but in the mean time I am dipping my toe in the world of commercial digs in an effort to get on land in more historic areas...

[Easylife]

I have learnt not to dismiss fields, to savour the ones I have and not to take any of it for granted. I guess we all have!

That is so true.

[Easylife]

I had a few quite short swings on Northern beaches with very little return but still it made a change. Then November lockdown came which meant no detecting for most but we were living in our motorhome on a friend's 5 acre horse field so I gridded it thoroughly but very slowly to make it last out, a great excercise which made three more very unexpected hammereds!
In Febuary a visit to a cultivated field as the overgrown weeds were dying back was looking really quite grim until another hammered showed, but hate to think what that field looks like now!
Then back on my usual pasture it produced two more hammereds and a gold sovereign. So no complaints at all, I'd call it just lucky.
Then I was given the oppertunity to detect the 8 acre grounds of a Victorian house and also dig the bottle pit. Finds were few but it made an interesting change to dig the many old bottles.
I guess that the pasture is growing and the ground quite dry now, it's usually unsuitable for detecting in Summer unless we get some good prolonged rain. But no worries at all, I'm quite happy with the result so far and busy with other things now. A funny old season but seems to have worked out quite well overall as it happens all things considered?
The longer I'm away from the pasture the more I look forward to getting back there, finds are still guaranteed but they'll keep!

[Dave The Slave]

After a very unproductive season last year, that did see me make the most of the time in freezing and wet conditions, was really looking forward to this season.
Started off quiet for first few weeks, different finds, quite pleasing but only a couple of interesting finds. A chance wander led to, what was for me, my Howard Carter moment. Only Roman coins but with their quality and amount unlikely to be surpassed in my detecting career. For 2 glorious weeks, with extra bonus visits, searching a specific area, knowing what i would be finding and then mining it out was wonderful.
Then the November lockdown and its lifting. Very short lived appearance as a concussion sub, gave one more days detecting, then nearly 4 months, of side lines, governed by government guidelines. Seeing others getting out earlier due to having local permissions was a filip, as that gave research possibilities, providing it was not one of those Hammered thingies.
That was it. Did get back out to a fall back area, where i gazed forlornly at where i had been earlier in the season, now under crop. Couple more interesting pieces in my terms, have low expectations detecting wise, so a 50% Silver coin is like Gold in my eyes.
To sum it up a very short but productive season. Keep waiting for the FLO description of the coins to turn up. Looking forward to the Harvest and what next season holds in store.
Lucky that i have miles of beach 10 minutes away, although the last visit, felt like i was scavenging in the landscape of a Nuclear apocalypse.
Good luck for the next season everyone and let`s hope this year was a one off.
Cheers all,
Dave.

[shaggybfc]

It's been a Meh season for me as well.
Gained a few new permissions, but all under crop now. Good news, the barley is starting to turn and nice yellow colour
I lost 250 acres, with a further 250 due to go before the end of the year - land has / is changing hands and the new landowner has a strict no detecting policy
The club digs haven't started back up yet, but should do soon It will be good to talk face to face with people who're actually interested in what we do.
The ground has been so hard, that the pasture permissions have been a no go. or have turned into 'oriental' fields. I've not been out in a while, and completely fed up. This rain may improve the chances, but I'm not holding out much hope until harvest.
"Tomorrow will be a good day"

[Easylife]

Well, that's me largely done for this season.

Ah the detecting season, but does it actually have an official span, like a start and finish? I mainly do pasture so just really down to ground conditions but cultivated will also no doubt be working around the crops too. But then again it may depend on the farmer's lenience to detect whilst crops are in? One 50 acre field the farmer has no issue at all with detecting anytime whilst the winter wheat is growing, but rather I didn't when the sugarbeet is in, which I honoured. So maybe a combination of factors which determines out time?

[Easylife]

It's been a Meh season for me as well.

Okay Shags, so what's a Meh season? Surely it's not just me wondering?

[figgis]

Ah the detecting season, but does it actually have an official span, like a start and finish?

Good point, and no it doesn't, strictly speaking. Many people are like you (and me, to an extent) and have access to pasture which can be a godsend when the crops are in or are too high or the grass has gone mad in the meadows. Beaches of course are always available to keep your hand in, but aren't everybody's cuppa. When it comes to arable, the season's lines can be blurred according to the landowner's preferences regarding us walking over their seeded land or new crop and, again like you, I have a couple of farmers who don't mind when I go on, which is a real bonus.

You're also right to point out that even pasture can be affected by ground conditions and close it off.

Blimey, I used to like summer but now I want it to rain at least once a week and can't wait for it to be over

[shaggybfc]

Okay Shags, so what's a Meh season? Surely it's not just me wondering?

exclamation
expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.
"meh, I'm not impressed so far"

adjective
uninspiring; unexceptional.
"a lot of his movies are … meh"

I think it’s a young persons saying. my daughter uses it all the time

I thought you have questioned my oriental pasture fields…. That’s where the grass is knee high.

[Easylife]

I think it’s a young persons saying. my daughter uses it all the time

I thought you have questioned my oriental pasture fields…. That’s where the grass is knee high.

Gee, and there's me thinking it was a typo!
Nee Hi - The fresh Prince of Ipswich!