Can I use a Metal Detector on Council owned land?

In general Milton Keynes City Council does not permit metal detecting on any Council owned or adopted highway land, outside of structured programmes of archaeological research specified and agreed by and notified to MK Council’s archaeological team on archaeology@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Metal detecting on Scheduled Monuments without a licence from Historic England is a criminal offence under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.

General Advice on Metal Detecting

General advice on metal detecting, the law, and good practice can be found on the website of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS).

Anyone metal detecting is also strongly encouraged to report their finds to the Bucks & Milton Keynes Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) at finds@buckscountymuseum.org. The Bucks & Milton Keynes FLO can also advise on active metal detecting clubs / societies within the area who will already have permissions in place with landowners to carry out responsible metal detecting on their land.

There is also further detailed guidance on metal detecting in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire at Advice for metal detectorists and amateur archaeologists | Buckinghamshire Council

How do I report Treasure found in the Milton Keynes City Council area?

There is more guidance on the how to report finds classed as “treasure” under the Treasure Act 1996 from our HM Coroners Office pages: 

Further questions?

If you have any questions, please contact MK Council’s archaeology team on archaeology@milton-keynes.gov.uk