There’s always something exciting about finding treasure close to home. The feeling of discovering something new, big, or small is what always brings people back for more. The Coronavirus crisis has put a firm stop to metal detecting in the great outdoors with your fellow adventurers, but the restrictions in place during this lockdown period don’t mean that we have to stop detecting altogether. If you are lucky enough to have a garden to explore, there are plenty of detecting adventures still to be had during self isolation. Let’s take a look at why we should still be getting out there detecting in our gardens.
Keep up a routine.
One of the most important things for our mental and physical health during this time is to keep up a good routine. Getting out of bed at a good time, getting dressed for the day and trying to keep up a sense of normality will go a long way to boost your mood and keep boredom at bay. Include your metal detecting in this too! Do you usually spend your Saturday afternoons detecting? Keep up this tradition. Get your gear together, put on your usual outfit and get into your garden like it’s the first time! This may seem silly, but keeping up hobbies and activities where we can will contribute to our sense of normality.
Find something unexpected.
If you haven’t done much metal detecting in your own garden, you might be surprised with what you find! There will likely be many items that have dropped out of your own pockets over the years, but have you thought about what you might find from years gone by? From century old coins, decade old time capsules, and even cars and church bells! Over the years, people all over the world have found buried treasures in their gardens, so why not get out into yours and have a hunt at home. Amanda Johnston from Portsmouth unearthed a 500-year-old coin worth £2,500 in her back garden! What might you find?
Get your family involved.
If you have a young family, you’re probably running out of ideas of how to keep the kids occupied. Metal detecting in your garden can prove to be a fantastic solution to a boredom problem. Not only does it get them out adventuring in the fresh air, it will be educational for them too. Get them to do their research before you head out - what gear you need, how to do it, and what kind of things people have found in the past. If you have already been out in your garden and you’re pretty certain there’s nothing left to discover, bury a few coins yourself for them to discover and watch their eyes light up when they stumble across their first hoard!
Get digging.
In your own garden, there are no restrictions. Many areas around the country require you to seek permission before detecting, and especially before digging anything up. In your own garden, however, the world is your oyster! You can detect and dig up to your heart’s content and any treasures that you do find will solely belong to you.
Be prepared.
If you don’t have your own garden, you don’t have to give up on metal detecting altogether. There are plenty more things to do with metal detecting that will keep your passion alive. Prepare for your next adventure by planning out where you will go and what you will need. You could even plan a treasure hunting road trip for family and friends. Read some metal detecting books - there are plenty of resources when it comes to this (take a look at the resources we stock here). Watch some metal detecting TV shows or movies - if nothing else, it will get you excited to get out there again! Why not organise your gear and give it some maintenance? Replacing batteries, cleaning your tools and taking an inventory - this can be a really useful time to refresh and reassess your gear.
For many of us, metal detecting is not just a hobby - it is a lifestyle, and that is why it is so important to keep on metal detecting in whatever capacity you are able to. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is still plenty you can do to keep the passion alive. When we are able to get out and about again, we will enjoy it even more than before. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all!