**Use your FLO as the liaison point if you want to go on CSS land **
There have been many changes in our countryside since 1945, as the Common Agricultural Policy subsidy system created a situation of payment and output. However, this is about to change and instead of receiving payments for food production, farmers must qualify for a single payment in return for positive environmental care.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is operated by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra). it is a scheme whereby farmers and land managers enter into 10 year land management agreements to achieve specific environmental objectives. In Countryside Stewardship agreements, 2 conditions specifically relate to the use of metal detectors.
1. On agreement land metal detecting is not permitted on sites of archaeological interest without the written consent of Defra and where certain sites are concerned, English Heritage.
2. The agreement holder is required to protect and maintain archaeological sites and other landscape features on the farm, including on land that is not under the land management agreement.
What does this mean? A recent letter to DEFRA has prompted this reply which is pretty self explanatory:
Many thanks for your query below. The extract below is from the CSS scheme handbook and sets out the requirements of the scheme with regard to metal detecting :
‘Metal Detecting is not permitted on sites of archaeological interest on land which is being managed under Stewardship, without the written consent of Defra and/or English Heritage. This requirement is included in Stewardship agreements to ensure that archaeological features which the land manager is being paid to conserve and protect are not damaged.
Over the remainder of the holding, Stewardship agreement holders are required to protect and maintain archaeological sites and other landscape features. To ensure that you can meet this requirement, you should consult your Stewardship Adviser before giving your consent to metal detecting on this land.’
This means that in all cases, agreement holders should approach us before allowing metal detecting on their land. When we are approached we consider each case individually. We would consider sites consulting Local Archaeologists / English Heritage as appropriate before deciding if to give permission. We may also put conditions on detecting, such as the requirement to map all finds and send the information to us, or to avoid permanent grassland.
Therefore in answer to your question, a CSS agreement does not automatically mean a ban on metal detecting across the whole farm, but agreement holders (the farmers) do need to get our permission before allowing detecting.
use your FLO as the liaison point if you want to go on CSS land