Login
Join

Welcome to the National Council for Metal Detecting

Promoting, Protecting and Encouraging Metal Detecting for over 40 years.
Find out more

Welcome to the NCMD

At the NCMD we love metal detecting! For over 40 years we have promoted, protected, and encouraged metal detecting for our members and the wider Metal Detecting Community.

We are formally recognised by the UK Government and play a vital role in representing members on the creation of any changes to legislation that may affect our great hobby.

Our introduction video is a great way to get to know us and learn what we are about.

Getting started with metal detecting

About us

Who we are and why we do it.

Why join?

Benefits of joining the NCMD

Detecting advice

Get advice and guidance on metal detecting

News

Catch up on our latest news

Major finds help

Our Major Finds Excavation Fund can help you with important finds

FAQ

Our FAQs can help with additional questions/advice

NCMD merchandise products

The NCMD Merchandise Shop

The NCMD Merchandise shop is where members can buy branded items such as caps, tshirts, hoodies and mugs.

While the shop is only open to our members, anyone can buy a gift voucher for a member. Great for those struggling to buy something for that metal detectorist in their life. The voucher gets sent straight to the member and they can use it to purchase anything from the merchandise shop.
(Vouchers cannot be used to purchase NCMD Membership)

If you are member you can visit the shop by logging into your NCMD account and scrolling down to the merchandise page under the ‘Members Only’ menu.

For non-members who wish to buy a gift voucher for an NCMD member you can use the button below.

Buy NCMD Gift Vouchers

The NCMD app

Our free mobile app is a great tool for NCMD members to log the position of find spots, take pictures, as well as adding key notes about the find. This makes it easier if it’s a reportable find, as you can look back on the information when talking with the FLO (Finds Liaison Officer).

You can also backup and save your finds data to a secure server, which only you have access to. A great option should you change/lose your phone. (The NCMD does not have access to the server.)

Members can also chat with each other through the online community forum, great for asking questions and sharing knowledge. You also have instant access to your digital membership card.

Once you have purchased NCMD membership you can download the app from Apple or Google Store via the following links.

Download on the App Store
Download on the Play Store

Latest news

Portable Antiquities Scheme – January Update

It has been a busy year for the PAS so far. This latest monthly update aims to keep the detecting community (and others) informed on the work of the Scheme across England from a British Museum perspective. Lots more is happening locally! The main object types recorded this month were coins (1,737), buckles (370), brooches (278), tokens (165) and vessel fragments (154). Most items were Post-Medieval (1,439), followed by those of Medieval (1,427) and Roman date (1,105). 2,634 items were

Read More »
10 February 2025 No Comments

Jon & Wendy Overcoming Adversity

Hi, we are Jon and Wendy, married for 40 years we have enjoyed our own separate hobbies and joint hobbies over the years. Jon’s main hobby is metal detecting, something he has been doing for over 50 years, since he was 9 years old. It is something he is very passionate about. Unfortunately, just over 3 years ago, Jon was prescribed a very strong antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) for a “suspected” infection, which it turned out he didn’t have. After taking just

Read More »
30 January 2025 No Comments

Portable Antiquities Scheme – November Update

To keep everyone in the detecting community as informed as possible, Prof Michael Lewis FSA MCIfA, Head, Portable Antiquities & Treasure at the British Museum, provides a monthly update on PAS happenings from a PAS Central Unit (British Museum) perspective. Please note that this is not a comprehensive report on all PAS work across England. In November 2024, 5,758 finds (within 4,295 records) were added to the PAS Database, bringing the total for the year so far to 74,464 items

Read More »
6 December 2024 No Comments

NCMD Launches Merchandise Shop

We have recently launched a merchandise shop where members can buy branded items such as caps, t-shirts, hoodies and mugs. While the shop is only open to NCMD Members, anyone can buy a gift voucher for a member. Great for those struggling to buy something for that metal detectorist in their life. The voucher gets sent straight to the member and they can use it to purchase anything from the merchandise shop. (Vouchers cannot be used to purchase NCMD Membership)

Read More »
31 October 2024 No Comments

Norman Conquest Coin Hoard

A Norman Conquest Coin hoard has been acquired for the nation by the South West Heritage Trust. The hoard consists of 2,584 silver pennies from the period c. 1066–68, likely buried for safekeeping in the turmoil of the Conquest. The hoard has been valued at £4.3 million making it the highest value treasure find ever. The acquisition and associated engagement project are made possible thanks to the generous support of a £4,420,527 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and

Read More »
23 October 2024 No Comments

Report on Metal Detecting in England and Wales.

In April there was an inquiry into Metal detecting in which the government requested feedback from organisations within the detecting community. APPAG (All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group) is a group of MPs and Peers in the Palace of Westminster from various different political parties with an interest in archaeology. The group is chaired by Tim Loughton MP. The NCMD provided a 10-page response to their questions, highlighting key issues and how we could work together going forward. Although this was provided

Read More »
18 October 2024 No Comments

Dig with confidence

Join the NCMD today

Become a member

Menu

Further Advice

Important Links