Used by:
290 cachers

Worcestershire County Council

Agreement Type:

Allowed

Landowner

Rachel Datlen
Countryside Greenspace Manager
Worcestershire Countryside locations can be found here.

Negotiator

Start Date

Renewal Date

Description

Geocaches may be placed on Countryside sites in accordance with the following arrangements.

SITES PERMITTED
Leapgate Old Railway Line, near Stourport on Severn (Martin Barnett)
Waseley Hills Country Park, near Rubery (George Hammonds)
Worcester Woods Country Park, Worcester ((Rob Stevenson))
Blackstone Meadows Riverside Park, near Bewdley (George Hammonds)
Fish Hill Picnic Place, near Broadway (Rob Stevenson)
Seaford Lane Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
Shell Ford Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
Elmley Castle Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
Pershore Bridges Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
Eckington Wharf Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
Jubilee Bridge Picnic Place (Rob Stevenson)
There are other sites that we manage, including SSSI's that we would not be able to allow geocaching on.
The above Sites' Countryside Site Officers can be emailed at mbarnett@worcestershire.gov.uk, ghammonds@worcestershire.gov.uk, rstevenson@worcestershire.gov.uk

A full list of Worcestershire CC site locations can be found here.

PLACEMENT PROCESS
A cacher wishing to place a cache on one of the sites agreed in principle would normally first visit the site to see if they wanted to place a cache there, and get some ideas about where they might place it.

Once they have some ideas then the cacher would contact the relevant Countryside Site Officer to discuss further, understand any local limitations, sensitivities, safety issues etc.

The cacher would then follow this up with a map or diagram or description of exactly where the cache could be placed for the site Officer to consider.
- If the proposal is clear and the Officer is happy with it then permission to place could be given immediately.
- If the Officer is unhappy with the proposal then it could be immediately refused.
- A need for further information would hopefully lead to a joint site visit, or further communication.

CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS
Geocaching will normally be allowed on Worcestershire County Council Countryside Service sites provided all of the conditions below can be met.

Any intent to locate Geocaches on Worcestershire County Council Countryside Service sites must be discussed in advance with the relevant Countryside Sites Officer responsible for the site.

Once permission has been given to locate a geocache on a site, the following guidelines must be adhered to:

• The exact position of the cache must be agreed and known by the Countryside Sites Officer.
• The initial placing or ongoing presence of the cache must not lead to anything other than minor input from the Countryside Service.
• The presence of the cache must not lead to adverse publicity.
• All Worcestershire County Council Countryside site byelaws must be obeyed.
• Ensure the cache container is clearly marked, stating that the content is harmless and giving the placers e-mail address or other contact method (e.g. Geocaching Association of Great Britain contact phone number).
• Only items that would be deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in a cache.
• 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).
• Caches should be placed in a way that they will not be accidentally found by non-geocachers.
• No items of food or drink of any kind should be placed in the cache.
• Caches should not be buried. Holes should not be dug in order to place a cache.
• Caches should not be hidden in animal holes or runs.
• Cache containers should not be placed inside a polythene bag.
• Fences should never be crossed (other than through a gate or by a stile) when placing or seeking a cache.
• No caches should be of a commercial nature, either in location or content.
• Maintenance of the cache is the responsibility of the placer.
• When leaving the cache site, after hiding or placing a cache, there should be no visual sign of disturbance.
• No lighters, matches or flammable objects should be placed in the cache.
• No cache should be placed in or on a dry stone wall.
• The County Council accepts no responsibility for caches which have been lost, stolen or damaged.

Worcestershire County Council's Countryside Service reserves the right to review this policy and any permissions given for placing geocaches at any time.

Area Covered

England/Worcestershire.

Last Modified

6th Jul 2016.