A metal detecting club that is approaching its first anniversary is also celebrating raising more than £10,000 for good causes.
Founded in September 2024 by Karl Monks, The Cotswolds Metal Detecting Community stages fortnightly midweek digs across the Cotswolds and South Gloucestershire. Members pay £20 to detect on farmland with the necessary permission of the owner. The money is divided between the landowner and a range of charities, including Longfield Community Hospice and The Great Western Air Ambulance.
The club has 149 members and Karl set a target of raising £10,000 in the first year, a figure which has been comfortably exceeded.
“We don’t have a membership fee, but people pay to come on a dig and that money gets split between the landowner and the charity of the day,” explained Karl.
“We also have a fundraising card at each dig, and money from that keeps the club going, covering fuel, tea and coffee and other expenses. The best part of this club is its members – everyone knows each other, and digs are a sort of community get-together social event.
“We’ve built a good relationship with landowners – they see what we do in the community and pass our name on to someone else, and we’ve never had to cancel a dig.”
There’s a waiting list of around 150 people wanting to join, but Karl plans to keep it a small club: “The issue is with parking – the amount of people on a dig is limited by the space available for car parking.”
The club has many novice detectorists, many inspired by the hit BBC show of the same name, as well as people who have been enjoying the hobby for decades. Ken Prior started detecting in the 1970s and is a regular on CMDC digs: “I’ve been doing this since the hobby started, and I love looking into history. I’ve got a huge collection at home, and I really enjoy it. The best thing I ever found was two Saxon pennies on a dig near Bath.”
Nigel Puddy enjoys the experience of being outdoors: “I do this for my own health and wellbeing. I get out into the fields, there’s no noise, no phones ringing and nobody bothering me – it’s peace and quiet.
“If you find something it’s a bonus, but I don’t come here to find rare and valuable coins, I like the wildlife, peace and quiet, and my own company.”
Debbie Hopkins has been detecting for two years and also enjoys the great outdoors: “It gets me out, clears my head, I get to meet people and exercise – I just love it.”
She’s happy to drive up to two hours from her home in Berkeley and her best find is a silver hammered coin dating from the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, found in Devon.
“I love this group, it’s so friendly and Karl’s amazing – he works so hard, and he keeps everything together.”
Jay Swenson has been a detectorist for around 15 years: “I used to do a lot of scuba diving, but I was diagnosed with COPD and needed to find another form of exercise, and this was the best thing I could do.
“The group has a lovely mixture of all ages, men and women, and children often come to the digs – it’s a wonderful thing to do.”
Longfield Community Hospice, based in Minchinhampton has benefitted from money raised by the CMDC. Katy Easey, Senior Marketing Manager, said: “Cotswolds Metal Detecting Community has raised funds for Longfield Community Hospice through donations from their members and guests who attend their digs. We are incredibly grateful for this support in both raising vital funds towards our hospice services for Gloucestershire and spreading the word about our hospice services.”
The club adheres to the National Council for Metal Detecting’s code of conduct and currently two finds, gold Roman coins, are with the County’s Finds Liaison Officer who will decide if they are deemed to be treasure.
“Plans are to continue our good work in the community hopefully with the help of farmers and landowners – if we all work together great things will be achieved. Digs are booked up until Christmas and we’re taking bookings for next year,” said Karl.
Any landowners who can help stage a dig can contact Karl via email, cotswoldsmetaldetectinggroup@gmail.com
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
