Garden Lockdown

Since the Government’s recent instructions regarding ‘social distancing’ in connection with the Coronavirus outbreak, we have all no doubt hugely missed being able to go out detecting as well as socialising with friends (Fig.1).

- Adrian Gayler

With club meetings, organised digs, and rallies being postponed at the time of writing we are only allowed to leave home for very limited purposes, i.e. shopping, exercise or helping others. So, having read many of the books in my collection, numerous past copies of Treasure Hunting magazine, and played with all manner of settings for my machines, I decided I really should do some gardening.

Not having a huge garden (70ft rear and 50ft front) with mainly borders and lawn, it is not too hard a task. Plus, I often get the odd clay pipe and ‘moo tube’ when digging, so its a bit like detecting really. Out I went on a lovely sunny morning with blue skies, sunshine, and birds chirping, only to be constantly interrupted by the overly large (some in size too) numbers of joggers and walkers who have suddenly appeared since we have been advised to exercise.

By lunchtime, I had completed all my tasks and sat down with my wife to have a sandwich on the bench in our front garden. Whilst chatting away and staring longingly at the border next to me wondering what could lie beneath, a voice shouted out, “Afternoon.” It was our postman. “You should be looking in there, if you like reading this kind of stuff,” he said pointing to the border with my monthly copy of Treasure Hunting magazine in his hand. I laughed with him, while picking up the magazine, to then hear a curt, “Don’t even think about it!” from my wife, as she headed off indoors. “Why not?” I replied, thinking now would be the perfect time as the soil was nicely broken up and I know where all the bulbs are.

Detecting Again at Last