The Swansea Metal Detecting Club has been in existence for the past 32 years, and at the time of writing has 85 members.
At this time the Club meets on alternate Wednesdays (Dates of meetings attached) at the Coopers Arms, Neath Road, Plasmarl, Swansea. Meetings start around 7.30pm. The first meeting of the month is usually quite informal, a drink and a chat, & showing off what has been found since the last meeting. We also hold our ‘Find of the Month’ Competition, which is usually judged by Mr. Steve Sell. Steve is an honary member of the Club and is a retired Archaeologist who was with the Glamorgan and Gwent Archaeology Trust. The second meeting of the month is a little more formal where Club business is discussed for an hour or so.
You would be more than welcome to attend a couple of meetings as a guest so that you can decide if you want to join us or not. From the 1st. January 2009 New Members will have to pay a one off joining fee of £10.00 plus an annual membership fee of £15.00. If retired, unemployed or under 16 then the annual membership fee will be £10.00.
A proportion of the Membership fee (£6) goes towards the Clubs affiliation to the N.C.M.D.
or to give it it’s full title, National Council for Metal Detecting. The N.C.M.D. is for want of a better description, the Political side/Governing Body of the hobby. They provide us with Public Liability Insurance, and amongst many other things, fight our corner when Government Politics or other legal wrangling threaten our hobby. The N.C.M.D. also brings together the other member Clubs throughout the Country into Regions. We are the South Wales Region.
A few Do’s and Do Nots Never Detect on any Land without permission, remember, all land belongs to someone. The National Trust does not allow Metal Detecting on its land or beaches under its control. It’s a good idea, when asking a farmer for permission, to ask him if he is the landowner, or a tenant, as a rule a tenant cannot give permission unless backed by the landowner. Most Beaches around Swansea are OK for detecting, except part of Rhossilli, which is National Trust….Best not to detect the Whitford Sands area of the Burry Estuary, too much ordnance from the Second World War in this area, very dangerous.
Common Land is a grey area for detecting…if you do and are challenged by anyone, then leave without argument. We have members who have detected on Fairwood for years without problems, others have been told to stop detecting on their first visit by members of the Commoners Association.
Please familiarise yourselves with the Treasure Act. 1996 as amended….Details from the Club Sec. or look it up on the Web….Host of information on Metal Detecting there.
Two monthly magazines available for the Hobby…… Treasure Hunting and Searcher.
If you require any further information then please email me or phone me on 01639 638923.
or E-mail Me
David Hughes
Club Sec'
