Just thought I would post a note on this forum as a new thread because I do not want this to get lost amongst the flood of replies on the original thread.
Firstly, my apologies for intruding on your forums uninvited.
I am part of the UK Admin for Geocaching.com and have read some of the posts on here regarding objections to Geocachers and their passtime.
I wish to assure all visitors to this forum that Geocachers are just countryside lovers who use technology to further their enjoyment rather than techno lovers who abuse the countryside. The rules on protection of the environment are rigidly enforced. When a cache is placed, we scrutinise the submitted details carefully and if cache seems to be placed without due care or sympathy for the protection of that environment it is not listed on the website. If it is later discovered that a cache is poorly sited, the cache is removed from the website and the cacher told to physically remove the cache itself.
The "treasure" at a cache is usually the location and getting there, not the content of the cache box itself. Most caches are placed near some point of interest and it would be a folly to place one *at* the actual point of interest, since this makes it difficult to search for, without arousing suspicion. This means that those who are concerned about monuments etc need not be.
I guess that technically a cache box could be considered as litter, but, Geocaching.com has a motto 'Cache in, Trash out'. Caches are hidden by taking advantage of whatever naturally occurring features there are, perhaps using some fallen bark, twigs, stones or leaf litter from the site. If you consider a cache to be litter, at least it is not abandoned and it is well hidden and should not offend the eye. There is no need, nor would we support, disturbing the ground whilst hiding or looking for a cache.
There is mention of one cache (Solsbury Hill) which had a miniature bottle of brandy as part of it's content. This contravenes the guidelines and the cacher would have been told to remove it. I visited that cache shortly after it was placed, there was no brandy in it then. The acceptable contents for a cache are pretty much common sense and can be summed up by basically saying "if a young kiddie should not have it, then it shouldn't be there".
On behalf of Geocaching.com, I would like to apologise for the furore the action of a couple of young and over enthusiastic cachers has caused.
