Crown Land prospecting funny

In Wales at least, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act made most Crown Estate land open to the public for open air recreation. The authorities have recently admitted to me that goldpanning is a lawful recreation. Also admitted is that moving rocks and gravel is not a crime, and that 'Erosion is Important' for the eco-health of rivers.
I was recently challenged yet again by the local forestry manager and his erstwhile minion when I was panning on a trickle of a stream in North Wales. He had seen my campervan parked in a layby and took several hours out of his valuable time to track me down. This guy has been trying to put me off my stride for the past three years, and I always greet him with a 'Hello Aled' a wide smile and a proffered hand to shake. Best policy as he always seems to be expecting or hoping for a confrontation. There wasn't a tree or sapling in sight! This wasn't forestry business, just another example of attempted harassment. I was just sampling, nothing serious, and in the event I was just ruling out another tributary. The sudden hailstorm had been somewhat spectacular, it having been sunny and wind free in the past four hours of the treck, but I was well wrapped up. Poor Aled and his buddy weren't and they looked rather blue. Aled's voice shivered out that I was trespassing and that I could be disturbing salmon eggs. Not being bothered to explain my rights yet again I responded, 'What you going to do about it?' He said he was going to give his photographs of me to the wildlife protection team. Ok I said, stop pulling my leg, salmon can't swim up here, there is a waterfall at least 100 metres high just downstream. Then, in a moment of inspiration I said, hey Aled, this stream is stuffed with nuggets and I think I might have found the source. Aled guessed that I was pulling his leg, but he wasn't quite sure, so he asked me to show him what I had found. Are you kidding I said, all of the big nuggets are in my bank deposit box already. But you are welcome to dig around here for some more old chap. I went back to my van, boiled three kettles for tea, coffee and soup, and Aled and his mate didn't return until twilight. They didn't speak to me.

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,59722.msg291739.html#msg291739

Sounds like another official way out of his depth and doing his own interpretation on rules , You did the right thing being cordial and entertaining him with friendly banter , but it gets tiresome when you Know your rights and these bozo's don't let up and seem determined to mess up your day , good luck sampling ..cheers Mick

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,59722.msg291744.html#msg291744

Thanks Folks. They may have been looking all over for massive excavations to pin on me. However, I have heard tales of massive nuggets being found by farmers in this part of North Wales in the not too distant past, so I probably wouldn't have seemed entirely misguided. There is definitely a sense of jealousy that I might be onto something both potentially rewarding and fun, while they have to chop down and plant boring pine trees all day long. I now have so many streams to cover I will have to concentrate one or two this year. One site is a deep pond below a waterfall, on a private and secluded stretch of river. The farmer has given me free access in total trust, and I will repay him in kind. Could be getting into quite an engineering adventure, possibly a steep learning curve and a bit beyond one guy. Anyone fancy a dive?

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,59722.msg291795.html#msg291795

Even'n Ridge and nice to hear you are getting back on track to adventure. I spent last summer de-rusting, welding and rebuilding the floor of my campervan. Now it is well insulated, very cosy and draughtproof. Hopefully the midges won't get in either. If next week is mild enough I may get a sluice in a stream. I had one mild day in January, then the snow and wind persuaded me to retreat a while.

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