Used by:
168 cachers

Dorchester Town Council

Agreement Type:

Allowed

Landowner

Steve Newman
Deputy Town Clerk
Dorchester Town Council
19 North Square, Dorchester, DT1 1JF
Tel: 01305 266861
Email : S.Newman@dorchester-tc.gov.uk

Negotiator

Start Date

Renewal Date

Description

Dorchester Town Council's approach

Whilst Dorchester Town Council recognises the value of Geocaching as a means of encouraging people to exercise and enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings it is important that the pastime does not impinge on other uses of the Council's recreation areas or create a danger to the public. The safety of wildlife and maintenance of the natural habitat is also a primary consideration. This policy is published in order to ensure that the activity can progress in harmony with the many other interests and legal constraints involved in the management of the Councils recreation areas.

Policy
● No caches may be placed on Dorchester Town Council managed land without the permission of the Deputy Town Clerk.
● The Deputy Town Clerk has the right to refuse both the proposed location and the type of container to be used.
● The Town Council reserves the right to remove unauthorised caches.

Guidelines for placing caches
● Geocachers must comply with all Dorchester Town Council guidelines and notices
● Geocachers must not cause any damage to trees
● Geocachers must not do anything which might cause a fire
● Geocaches must not be placed close to water where adverse weather may lead to them being inaccessible without entering the water
● For reasons of safety and security Dorchester Town Council discourage geocaching on their land during the hours of darkness.
● All caches must be placed in line with the Geocaching Association of Great Britain - GAGB Guidelines which follow:
a. Cache containers must be clearly marked stating that the contents are harmless and giving the placers e-mail address or other contact method (e.g. GAGB contact phone number 07092 040 416).
b. Only items that would be deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in a cache.
c. No cache should be placed in such a way as to risk damage or disturbance to any Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM)
d. When placing a cache the onus is on the placer to seek the permission of the landowner.
e. Caches should be placed in a way that they will not be accidentally found by non-geocachers.
f. No items of food or drink of any kind should be placed in the cache.
g. Caches should not be buried; holes should not be dug in order to place a cache.
h. Caches should not be hidden in animal holes or runs.
i. Cache containers should not be placed inside a polythene bag.
j. Fences should never be crossed (other than through a gate or by a stile) when placing or seeking a cache.
k. No caches should be of a commercial nature, either in location or content.
l. Maintenance of the cache is the responsibility of the placer.
m. When leaving the cache site, after hiding or placing a cache, there should be no visual sign of disturbance.
n. No cache should be placed in or on a dry stone wall.
o. Please do not bring geocaching into disrepute, never drive your car anywhere other than on the highways and always park legally.

Application Process

If having read the above policy and guidelines you wish to place a cache on land managed by Dorchester Town Council you should contact :

Steve Newman
Deputy Town Clerk
Dorchester Town Council
19 North Square, Dorchester, DT1 1JF
Tel: 01305 266861
Email : S.Newman@dorchester-tc.gov.uk

Area Covered

England/Dorset.

Last Modified

6th Jan 2020.