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Agreement Used
Used by:
313 cachers

Forestry England - South East-Solent-IOW District

Agreement Type:

tickAllowed

Landowner

Forestry England - South East, Solent, IOW District

Negotiator

Chris Carpenter (Saza36)
Chris Warren(Stoke Bunnies)

Start Date

01/01/2016

Renewal Date

31/12/2024

Description

THE RIGHTS GRANTED

Permission is given to the Permit Holder to Geocache National - on Forestry England land, subject to the following conditions.

Prior consent will need to be sought for each individual cache placed in our Freehold woods in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex & Berkshire - For information not all woods are ours, there are some which are leased, some sites may have restrictions due to harvesting, species and habitats - so it will be necessary to agree each location in advance - We will not permit caches in leasehold woods. Caches must not be located in any area where forest work activities are taking place - please ensure that any signage restricting access are observed. Cache must not be located in areas where environmental damage will occur through increased use.

Obey all signs and diversions.

All materials and media produced by the Permit Holder in connection with this permission, or other publicity, shall acknowledge and give full recognition to Forestry England. 3.

THE SITE

The area over which the rights are granted:-

Freehold woods only

Freehold woods in the South England Forest District - including High Ridge and Ranmore, Whiteley Pastures, West Walk, Rogate, Havant, Marden, Houghton Gorrick, Crowthorne, part of Bramshill, Blackwood, part of Micheldever, Bushy Leaze, Chawton Park, West Wood, Stoke Park, Parkhurst, Firestone Copse, Bouldner, Combley Great Wood, all areas of Alice Holt including outlying blocks but excluding Straits Inclosure. Other exceptions - Selhurst, Charlton and Barnetts Copse (part of West Harting Down). These are all leasehold with public access restricted to the PRoW network.

THE DURATION

From 01/01/2022 To 31/12/2022

The permission will subsist at the discretion of the Forest District Manager who may withdraw it at any time.

THE CHARGE

There is no charge for the rights granted.

CONDITIONS

a. The activities and their locations will be specified by the Deputy Surveyor and will be staged only in Forestry England freehold woods in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex & Berkshire - We cannot permit caches in leasehold woods. Please ensure that any new caches are no closer than 1km apart.

b. The responsibility for ensuring that the area and/or the route(s) are safe and suitable for the activities will rest with the Geocache Placers/Geocachers and they will ensure that public rights of way are not impeded.

c. Geocache Placers/Geocachers will pay compensation or make good to the Deputy Surveyor's satisfaction all damage to Commission property caused by the exercise of this permission. Geocache Placers/Geocachers will clear all equipment and litter brought onto Forestry England land by them, to the satisfaction of the Deputy Surveyor.

d. Geocache Placers/Geocachers will ensure proper consideration is given to protect safety of participants and members of the public likely to be within the vicinity of the activity, including the livestock.

e. Geocache Placers/Geocachers will advise Forestry England within 24 hours of the end of an activity of any accident to a participant, spectator, or third party which arises as a result of the exercise of this permission.

f. If Forestry England's tenants and/or landlords or other persons having an interest in the land are likely to be affected by this permission, then the Permit Holder will notify the relevant Geocache Placer.

g. The Deputy Surveyor will ensure that all relevant forest district staff are notified of the permission and the approved routes or areas to be used.

h. Geocache Placers/Geocachers will ensure that no vehicles owned or used by them enter Forestry England land, except for parking in recognised car parks.

i. The Permit Holder will ensure that the Forestry Commission Byelaws are observed, except as expressly authorised by this Agreement. A copy of the Byelaws will be supplied on request by the Deputy Surveyor. In particular the Permit Holder will ensure: • there is no lighting of fires • all gates are left in the position as found • reasonable care is taken to prevent disturbance to wild fauna and flora and to livestock • compliance with any instructions issued by the Deputy Surveyor or his authorised representative. • there is to be no disturbance to the general public • Overnight parking in Forestry England car parks is against the Byelaws.

j. Forestry England reserves the right to revoke this permission at any time by notice given to the Permit Holder in writing. If the revocation is to meet Forestry England requirements a refund of the charge will be made unless a suitable alternative location can be provided. If the revocation is required as a result of default by the Permit Holder or any representative no refund will be made.

k. Nothing in this permission shall be construed as creating a business tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

l. Please ensure that all cache containers are clearly marked ‘Geocache’, stating that the contents are harmless (no dangerous items, matches, knives, food, drink and no alcohol) with the Placers’ e-mail address or other contact method. Only items that would be deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in the cache.

m. The Cache is to be no larger than 3 litre capacity (ice cream tub size) made of plastic with 4-clip lock secured lid.

n. All caches are to be placed in such a way as not to cause any risk, damage or disturbance to the flora or fauna.

o. Caches must not be buried, and holes must not be dug in order to place a cache, and must not be hidden in animal holes or runs.

p. Please do not place caches on islands where it would be necessary to wade through water and disturb pond life or wildlife.

q. Caches must not be placed up trees, where it would necessitate climbing to retrieve them.

r. Fences, walls and structures should never be damaged when placing or seeking a cache.

s. Before placing a cache, Forestry England must be contacted to ensure that the proposed site is acceptable and that the management of the site does not compromise the cache.

t. Maintenance of the cache is the responsibility of the placer.

u. When leaving the cache site, after finding or hiding a cache, there must be no visual sign of disturbance.

v. No caches designed for overnight use are to be approved or placed on Forestry England land.

w. Caches may only be visited during the day.

x. While there is open access through most of the forest on foot, cycle or horse, no vehicle access is permitted off the public highway. Always park sensibly, please do not park in forest entrances, as many forest roads are used by large articulated lorries that require significant space to manoeuvre. Blocking entrances can seriously impede emergency access/egress. Please park in designated car parks. Any Pay & Display parking charges will still apply.

All materials and media produced by the Permit Holder in connection with this permission, or other publicity, shall acknowledge and give full recognition to Forestry England.

This is a working wood/forest, cachers may come across work sites, workers and vehicles during their visit. Please avoid all working areas and obey any safety signs and instructions. They must not enter any areas where access has been restricted.

This wood/forest and the roads and tracks are used for a lot of different activities. Caches may meet other people during their visit - please be on the look out for them, as they may be unaware that cachers are there. Please also respect their rights to enjoy their recreation.

Conditions can change very rapidly in forests and woodlands. Cachers must make sure that they are properly prepared for their visit, and are responsible for their own safety.

As the forest areas subject to this permission are also used by certain other third parties, it is necessary in the interests of management of the forest and safety for such third parties to notify you of events, which may affect or restrict your use of the forest. In these circumstances Forestry England will disclose your details to certain other forest users for this purpose only.

Application Process

1. Email all details of the proposed cache to Kim Ebner including all of: cache id, cache name, coordinates and OS grid reference.

2. Include details of cache size (max 3 litres) and placement and confirm that it does not interfere with wildlife etc / involve trampling through undergrowth, and that new caches are 1km from other caches on FC SE property (caches placed prior to 1/7/12 may be closer together).

3. Include pictures from Google Earth and MAGIC Mapit to show the location - she will help with this if you don't know how to do it. She will check that it is sensible / doesn't have any obvious proximity issues. If the cache appears to be on private land / SSSI or similar she will check that you have also asked permission for that

4. She will then send this to the FC for permission

5. When she gets a reply then she will provide details for the Cache Owner to cut and paste it into the reviewer section on the cache page.

6. The cache should now be placed.

7. The reviewer will check the details and assuming all the regular checks are OK, publish the cache.

Area Covered

England/Berkshire. England/Hampshire. England/Isle of Wight. England/Surrey. England/West Sussex.

Last Modified

18th Apr 2023.

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