Cache Guidelines

Cache Placement/Location Guidelines

Link to the Groundspeak UK Guideline on Wiki

The GAGB guidelines:

Cache placement/Location guidelines

    1 – Caches are possible on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) locations if they have permission from the landowner. In addition, the Designating Authorities for the Individual Governments/ Assemblies may be required to be consulted, and may require a formal application. No cache should be placed in such a way as to risk damage or disturbance to any SSSI or SAM.
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    2 – No cache should be placed in or on a dry stone wall.
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    3 – Physical caches or physical cache stages should not be placed within areas of religious devotional or spiritual activity such as churches, mosques, churchyards, cemeteries or other burial grounds and should not be located on, in or immediately adjacent to the boundaries of such locations without specific permissions of the relevant authority.
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    4 – Where a war memorial or other memorial to the dead is the focal point of a clearly defined precinct, plaza, memorial garden or like surrounding area, no physical caches or physical cache stages should be placed within that area without specific written permission of the relevant custodial authority.
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    5 – Physical caches or physical cache stages should not be placed within the boundary of Network Rail railway stations, associated car parks, footbridges or immediately adjacent public spaces.
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    6 – Caches should be hidden so as to minimise the chance of security alerts, particularly where there is a liklihood of finders being considered suspicious for example where a cache is overlooked by houses / offices / shops / people.
    When a cache is placed in an overlooked location, the cache owner should help finders avoid being considered suspicious by offering a clear and unambiguous hint on how to retrieve the cache quickly.
    Cache owners should mark caches externally with the relevant listing site reference (eg GCxxxxxx, OXxxxxxx, or OCxxxxx) wherever the cache is big enough for this to be written externally. This will offer the Police a better way to identify a suspect package as a geocache.
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    Cache hiding/seeking guidelines

  1. Ensure the cache container is clearly marked, stating that the content is harmless and giving the placers e-mail address or other contact method (eg GAGB contact phone number)
  2. Only items that would be deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in a cache.
  3. When placing a cache, the onus is on the placer to seek the permission of the landowner.
  4. Caches should be placed in a way that they will not be accidentally found by non-geocachers.
  5. No items of food or drink of any kind should be placed in the cache.
  6. Caches should not be buried. Holes should not be dug in order to place a cache.
  7. Caches should not be hidden in animal holes or runs.
  8. Cache containers should not be placed inside a polythene bag.
  9. Fences should never be crossed (other than through a gate or by a stile) when placing or seeking a cache.
  10. No caches should be of a commercial nature, either in location or content.
  11. Maintenance of the cache is the responsibility of the placer.
  12. When leaving the cache site, after hiding or placing a cache, there should be no visual sign of disturbance.
  13. Please do not bring geocaching into disrepute, never drive your car anywhere other than on the highways and byways, and always park legally.

Please try and adhere to these guidelines.