> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.checkthatfield.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Finding a field

> Search by postcode, town or village, use your location, or draw the field on the map.

There are four ways to find a field on the [map](https://www.checkthatfield.com/map). All of them work in England only.

## Search a postcode

Type a full postcode, such as `OX1 1AA`, and press **Search**. You see the open fields within 500 m of the postcode, nearest first.

Fields have no postcode of their own, so the postcode of the nearest house or farm is usually the best place to start.

## Search a town or village

Type the name of a town or village. Suggestions appear as you type. You see the open fields within 500 m of the edge of the place's built-up area, both just outside it and the open land just inside. That's where most new housing goes.

If more than one place has the name, you're asked which one you mean.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Street addresses don't work. Search the postcode, or the town or village, instead.

## Use your location

Tap **Use my location** (or the location button beside the search box). You see the open fields within 500 m of you. If you're standing in a field and your device knows where you are closely enough, that field is picked for you: the panel says **You're in this field**.

## Draw the field

Tap **Draw a field**, then tap each corner of the field in turn, and tap the first corner again to finish. Every registered land parcel your shape covers is picked.

* A parcel counts only if the shape covers a fair share of it (or it covers a fair share of the shape), so a wobbly line doesn't pull in the field next door.
* A report covers up to 20 fields. If your shape covers more, the 20 it covers most are picked.
* A report on a drawn shape is weighted by how much of each field your shape covers.

## What counts as a field

The fields come from HM Land Registry's registered land parcels. A search shows parcels that are open land of at least 0.2 hectares; smaller ones are usually verges, gardens and slivers. A search shows up to 60 fields.

If nothing is found, try a nearby postcode, or draw the field. Land that is leasehold or has never been registered has no parcel to find.

## Linking to a search

The map keeps your search in the address bar, so you can bookmark or share it. You can also build a link yourself:

| Address | Opens |
| - | - |
| `/map?postcode=OX1%201AA` | A search for a postcode, or a town or village |
| `/map?q=Thame` | The same: `q` works just like `postcode` |
| `/map?at=-1.25,51.75,15` | The map at a longitude, latitude and zoom |
| `/map?fields=123,456` | The map with those fields picked (up to 20) |
| `/map?report=…` | The map with a report open |

See [Using the map](https://docs.checkthatfield.com/app/the-map.md) for what you can do once the fields are showing.


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