Those numbers of metal detectorists... STOP Fudging the Question

 

Fudge is no answer

While the Helsinki gang can gaily ignore the implications of Hardy's 2017 estimate of 27000 artefact hunters in England and Wales, the rest of us would prefer to know the facts. We have seen that "Let's Go Digging" has 13400 followrs, and now I see that the latest membership numbers for the "Fudgeworld" (Metal detecting Private group) currently stands at 26.2K members. Not all will be British, not all will be active, but then again, not all active English and Welsh detectorists will be members of this one facebook page. It's beginning to look as if there is a problem here that current policy needs to address.