diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/core/fieldlist.py b/src/earthkit/data/core/fieldlist.py
index 3adf33c0..f98768d6 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/core/fieldlist.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/core/fieldlist.py
@@ -79,12 +79,6 @@ def index(self, key):
 class Field(Base):
     r"""Represent a Field."""
 
-    def __init__(
-        self,
-        metadata=None,
-    ):
-        self.__metadata = metadata
-
     @abstractmethod
     def _values(self, dtype=None):
         r"""Return the raw values extracted from the underlying storage format
@@ -113,12 +107,10 @@ def values(self):
         return self._flatten(self._values())
 
     @property
+    @abstractmethod
     def _metadata(self):
         r"""Metadata: Get the object representing the field's metadata."""
-        if self.__metadata is None:
-            # TODO: remove this legacy method
-            self.__metadata = self._make_metadata()
-        return self.__metadata
+        self._not_implemented()
 
     def to_numpy(self, flatten=False, dtype=None, index=None):
         r"""Return the values stored in the field as an ndarray.
@@ -637,6 +629,16 @@ def metadata(self, *keys, astype=None, remapping=None, patches=None, **kwargs):
         else:
             return self._metadata.as_namespace(None)
 
+    @abstractmethod
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        r"""Return a copy of the field.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        :obj:`Field`
+        """
+        self._not_implemented()
+
     def dump(self, namespace=all, **kwargs):
         r"""Generate dump with all the metadata keys belonging to ``namespace``.
 
@@ -668,6 +670,28 @@ def dump(self, namespace=all, **kwargs):
         """
         return self._metadata.dump(namespace=namespace, **kwargs)
 
+    def save(self, filename, append=False, **kwargs):
+        r"""Write the field into a file.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        filename: str, optional
+            The target file path, if not defined attempts will be made to detect the filename
+        append: bool, optional
+            When it is true append data to the target file. Otherwise
+            the target file be overwritten if already exists. Default is False
+        **kwargs: dict, optional
+            Other keyword arguments passed to :obj:`write`.
+
+        See Also
+        --------
+        :obj:`write`
+
+        """
+        flag = "wb" if not append else "ab"
+        with open(filename, flag) as f:
+            self.write(f, **kwargs)
+
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         """Return the value of the metadata ``key``."""
         return self._metadata.get(key)
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/core/metadata.py b/src/earthkit/data/core/metadata.py
index 0e63dda5..36faece4 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/core/metadata.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/core/metadata.py
@@ -73,32 +73,56 @@ def get(self, md, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
             else:
                 raise KeyError(f"{key}, reason={e}")
 
+    def __call__(self, func):
+        @functools.wraps(func)
+        def wrapped(cls, key, *args, **kwargs):
+            if key in self:
+                return self.get(cls, key, *args, **kwargs)
+            return func(cls, key, *args, **kwargs)
 
-def cacheable_metadata(func):
-    @functools.wraps(func)
-    def wrapped(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
-        if self._cache is not None:
-            cache_id = (key, default, astype, raise_on_missing)
-            if cache_id in self._cache:
-                return self._cache[cache_id]
-
-            v = func(self, key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing)
-            self._cache[cache_id] = v
-            return v
-        else:
-            return func(self, key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing)
-
-    return wrapped
+        return wrapped
 
 
-def custom_accessor(func):
-    @functools.wraps(func)
-    def wrapped(self, key, *args, **kwargs):
-        if self.CUSTOM_ACCESSOR and key in self.CUSTOM_ACCESSOR:
-            return self.CUSTOM_ACCESSOR.get(self, key, *args, **kwargs)
-        return func(self, key, *args, **kwargs)
+class MetadataCacheHandler:
+    @staticmethod
+    def make(cache=None):
+        if cache is True:
+            return dict()
+        elif cache is not False and cache is not None:
+            return cache
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def clone_empty(cache):
+        if cache is not None:
+            return cache.__class__()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def serialise(cache):
+        if cache is not None:
+            return cache.__class__
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def deserialise(state):
+        cache = state
+        if state is not None:
+            return cache()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def cache_get(func):
+        @functools.wraps(func)
+        def wrapped(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
+            if self._cache is not None:
+                cache_id = (key, default, astype, raise_on_missing)
+                if cache_id in self._cache:
+                    return self._cache[cache_id]
+
+                v = func(self, key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing)
+                self._cache[cache_id] = v
+                return v
+            else:
+                return func(self, key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing)
 
-    return wrapped
+        return wrapped
 
 
 class Metadata(metaclass=ABCMeta):
@@ -121,22 +145,6 @@ class Metadata(metaclass=ABCMeta):
 
     """
 
-    DATA_FORMAT = None
-    NAMESPACES = []
-    LS_KEYS = []
-    DESCRIBE_KEYS = []
-    INDEX_KEYS = []
-    ALIASES = []
-    CUSTOM_ACCESSOR = None
-
-    _cache = None
-
-    def __init__(self, cache=False):
-        if cache is True:
-            self._cache = dict()
-        elif cache is not False and cache is not None:
-            self._cache = cache
-
     @abstractmethod
     def __iter__(self):
         """Return an iterator over the metadata keys."""
@@ -189,13 +197,10 @@ def items(self):
         """
         pass
 
-    @cacheable_metadata
-    @custom_accessor
+    @abstractmethod
     def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
         r"""Return the value for ``key``.
 
-        When the instance is created with ``cache=True`` all the result is cached.
-
         Parameters
         ----------
         key: str
@@ -224,10 +229,6 @@ def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
             a missing value.
 
         """
-        return self._get(key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing)
-
-    @abstractmethod
-    def _get(self, key, astype=None, default=None, raise_on_missing=False):
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -249,6 +250,7 @@ def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def namespaces(self):
         r"""Return the available namespaces.
 
@@ -256,8 +258,9 @@ def namespaces(self):
         -------
         list of str
         """
-        return self.NAMESPACES
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
         r"""Return all the keys/values from a namespace.
 
@@ -273,14 +276,14 @@ def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
             All the keys/values from the `namespace`.
 
         """
-        if namespace is None or namespace == "":
-            return {k: v for k, v in self.items()}
-        return {}
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def dump(self, **kwargs):
         r"""Generate a dump from the metadata content."""
-        return None
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def datetime(self):
         r"""Return the date and time of the field.
 
@@ -297,10 +300,7 @@ def datetime(self):
         'valid_time': datetime.datetime(2020, 12, 21, 18, 0)}
 
         """
-        return {
-            "base_time": self.base_datetime(),
-            "valid_time": self.valid_datetime(),
-        }
+        pass
 
     @abstractmethod
     def base_datetime(self):
@@ -311,33 +311,30 @@ def valid_datetime(self):
         pass
 
     @property
+    @abstractmethod
     def geography(self):
         r""":obj:`Geography`: Get geography description.
 
         If it is not available None is returned.
         """
-        return None
-
-    @property
-    def gridspec(self):
-        r""":class:`~data.core.gridspec.GridSpec`: Get grid description.
-
-        If it is not available None is returned.
-        """
-        return None if self.geography is None else self.geography.gridspec()
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def ls_keys(self):
         r"""Return the keys to be used with the :meth:`ls` method."""
-        return self.LS_KEYS
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def describe_keys(self):
         r"""Return the keys to be used with the :meth:`describe` method."""
-        return self.DESCRIBE_KEYS
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def index_keys(self):
         r"""Return the keys to be used with the :meth:`indices` method."""
-        return self.INDEX_KEYS
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def data_format(self):
         r"""Return the underlying data format.
 
@@ -346,17 +343,27 @@ def data_format(self):
         str
 
         """
-        return self.DATA_FORMAT
+        pass
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def _hide_internal_keys(self):
-        return self
+        """If the metadata object has internal keys, hide them.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        WrappedMetadata, Metadata
+            If the metadata object has internal keys, return a new wrapped object with the
+            internal keys hidden. Otherwise return the metadata object itself.
+        """
+        pass
 
 
 class WrappedMetadata:
-    def __init__(self, metadata, extra=None, hidden=None, merge=True):
+    def __init__(self, metadata, extra=None, hidden=None, owner=None, merge=True):
         self.metadata = metadata
         self.extra = extra if extra is not None else dict()
         self.hidden = hidden if hidden is not None else []
+        self.owner = owner
 
         for k in self.hidden:
             if k in self.extra:
@@ -429,7 +436,7 @@ def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False, **kwarg
             return default
 
         if key in self.extra:
-            v = self.extra[key]
+            v = self._extra_value(key)
             if astype is not None and v is not None:
                 try:
                     return astype(v)
@@ -441,6 +448,25 @@ def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False, **kwarg
             key, default=default, astype=astype, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing, **kwargs
         )
 
+    def _extra_value(self, key):
+        v = self.extra[key]
+        if callable(v):
+            v = v(self.owner, key, self.metadata)
+        return v
+
+    def as_namespace(self, namespace):
+        r = dict()
+        if namespace is None:
+            r = dict(self.items())
+            for k, v in self.extra.items():
+                if k in r:
+                    r[k] = self._extra_value(k)
+        else:
+            r = self.metadata.as_namespace(namespace)
+            # TODO: add filtering based on extra
+
+        return r
+
     def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
         md = self.metadata.override(*args, **kwargs)
         return self.__class__(md, self.extra, hidden=self.hidden, merge=True)
@@ -489,21 +515,25 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._d = dict(*args, **kwargs)
         super().__init__()
 
-    def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        d = dict(**self._d)
-        d.update(*args, **kwargs)
-        return RawMetadata(d)
-
     def __len__(self):
         return len(self._d)
 
     def __contains__(self, key):
         return key in self._d
 
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        return self.get(key, raise_on_missing=True)
+
     def __iter__(self):
         return iter(self.keys())
 
-    def _get(self, key, default=None, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
+    def keys(self):
+        return self._d.keys()
+
+    def items(self):
+        return self._d.items()
+
+    def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
         if not raise_on_missing:
             v = self._d.get(key, default)
         else:
@@ -516,11 +546,19 @@ def _get(self, key, default=None, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
                 return None
         return v
 
-    def keys(self):
-        return self._d.keys()
+    def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        d = dict(**self._d)
+        d.update(*args, **kwargs)
+        return RawMetadata(d)
 
-    def items(self):
-        return self._d.items()
+    def namespaces(self):
+        return []
+
+    def as_namespace(self, namespace):
+        return {}
+
+    def datetime(self):
+        return None
 
     def base_datetime(self):
         return None
@@ -528,8 +566,27 @@ def base_datetime(self):
     def valid_datetime(self):
         return None
 
-    def as_namespace(self, namespace):
-        return {}
+    @property
+    def geography(self):
+        return None
+
+    def dump(self, **kwargs):
+        return None
+
+    def ls_keys(self):
+        return []
+
+    def describe_keys(self):
+        return []
+
+    def index_keys(self):
+        return []
+
+    def data_format(self):
+        return None
+
+    def _hide_internal_keys(self):
+        return self
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return f"{self.__class__.__name__}({self._d.__repr__()})"
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/indexing/fieldlist.py b/src/earthkit/data/indexing/fieldlist.py
index c3c5170f..4e261ddf 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/indexing/fieldlist.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/indexing/fieldlist.py
@@ -85,5 +85,44 @@ def merge(cls, sources):
         return cls.from_fields(list(chain(*[f for f in sources])))
 
 
+class WrappedField:
+    def __init__(self, field):
+        self._field = field
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        return getattr(self._field, name)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return repr(self._field)
+
+
+# class NewDataField(WrappedField):
+#     def __init__(self, field, data):
+#         super().__init__(field)
+#         self._data = data
+#         self.shape = data.shape
+
+#     def to_numpy(self, flatten=False, dtype=None, index=None):
+#         data = self._data
+#         if dtype is not None:
+#             data = data.astype(dtype)
+#         if flatten:
+#             data = data.flatten()
+#         if index is not None:
+#             data = data[index]
+#         return data
+
+
+class NewFieldMetadataWrapper:
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        from earthkit.data.core.metadata import WrappedMetadata
+
+        self.__metadata = WrappedMetadata(field._metadata, extra=kwargs, owner=field)
+
+    @property
+    def _metadata(self):
+        return self.__metadata
+
+
 # For backwards compatibility
 FieldArray = SimpleFieldList
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/codes.py b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/codes.py
index 7cbf014e..c30d7ebe 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/codes.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/codes.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from earthkit.data.core.fieldlist import Field
+from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import NewFieldMetadataWrapper
 from earthkit.data.readers.grib.metadata import GribFieldMetadata
 from earthkit.data.utils.message import CodesHandle
 from earthkit.data.utils.message import CodesMessagePositionIndex
@@ -300,7 +301,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
             self._metadata.get("number", None),
         )
 
-    def write(self, f, bits_per_value=None):
+    def write(self, f, **kwargs):
         r"""Writes the message to a file object.
 
         Parameters
@@ -311,14 +312,9 @@ def write(self, f, bits_per_value=None):
             Set the ``bitsPerValue`` GRIB key in the generated GRIB message. When
             None the ``bitsPerValue`` stored in the metadata will be used.
         """
-        if bits_per_value is not None:
-            handle = self.handle.clone()
-            handle.set_long("bitsPerValue", bits_per_value)
-        else:
-            handle = self.handle
+        from earthkit.data.writers import write
 
-        # assert isinstance(f, io.IOBase)
-        handle.write_to(f)
+        write(f, self, **kwargs)
 
     def message(self):
         r"""Returns a buffer containing the encoded message.
@@ -328,3 +324,20 @@ def message(self):
         bytes
         """
         return self.handle.get_buffer()
+
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        return NewMetadataGribField(self, **kwargs)
+
+
+class NewMetadataGribField(NewFieldMetadataWrapper, GribField):
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        NewFieldMetadataWrapper.__init__(self, field, **kwargs)
+        self._handle = field._handle
+        GribField.__init__(
+            self,
+            field.path,
+            field._offset,
+            field._length,
+            handle_manager=field._handle_manager,
+            use_metadata_cache=field._use_metadata_cache,
+        )
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/memory.py b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/memory.py
index 8f43d0ba..01d344f3 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/memory.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/memory.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import eccodes
 
+from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import NewFieldMetadataWrapper
 from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import SimpleFieldList
 from earthkit.data.readers import Reader
 from earthkit.data.readers.grib.codes import GribCodesHandle
@@ -154,6 +155,20 @@ def from_buffer(buf):
             GribCodesHandle(handle, None, None), use_metadata_cache=get_use_grib_metadata_cache()
         )
 
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        return NewMetadataGribFieldInMemory(self, **kwargs)
+
+
+class NewMetadataGribFieldInMemory(NewFieldMetadataWrapper, GribFieldInMemory):
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        NewFieldMetadataWrapper.__init__(self, field, **kwargs)
+        self._handle = field._handle
+        GribFieldInMemory.__init__(
+            self,
+            field._handle,
+            use_metadata_cache=field._use_metadata_cache,
+        )
+
 
 class GribFieldListInMemory(SimpleFieldList):
     """Represent a GRIB field list in memory loaded lazily"""
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/metadata.py b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/metadata.py
index cdeeb241..f7e9ce3c 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/metadata.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/metadata.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from earthkit.data.core.geography import Geography
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import Metadata
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import MetadataAccessor
+from earthkit.data.core.metadata import MetadataCacheHandler
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import WrappedMetadata
 from earthkit.data.indexing.database import GRIB_KEYS_NAMES
 from earthkit.data.readers.grib.gridspec import make_gridspec
@@ -301,24 +302,20 @@ class GribMetadata(Metadata):
         "vertical",
     ]
 
-    DATA_FORMAT = "grib"
-
-    CUSTOM_ACCESSOR = MetadataAccessor(
-        {
-            "valid_datetime": ["valid_datetime", "valid_time"],
-            "gridspec": ["grid_spec", "gridspec"],
-            "base_datetime": ["base_datetime", "forecast_reference_time", "base_time"],
-            "reference_datetime": "reference_datetime",
-            "indexing_datetime": ["indexing_time", "indexing_datetime"],
-            "step_timedelta": "step_timedelta",
-            "param_level": "param_level",
-        }
-    )
+    ACCESSORS = {
+        "valid_datetime": ["valid_datetime", "valid_time"],
+        "gridspec": ["grid_spec", "gridspec"],
+        "base_datetime": ["base_datetime", "forecast_reference_time", "base_time"],
+        "reference_datetime": "reference_datetime",
+        "indexing_datetime": ["indexing_time", "indexing_datetime"],
+        "step_timedelta": "step_timedelta",
+        "param_level": "param_level",
+    }
 
     __handle_type = None
 
-    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+    def __init__(self, cache=None, **kwargs):
+        self._cache = MetadataCacheHandler.make(cache)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _handle_type():
@@ -350,7 +347,9 @@ def keys(self):
     def items(self):
         return self._handle.items()
 
-    def _get(self, key, default=None, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
+    @MetadataCacheHandler.cache_get
+    @MetadataAccessor(ACCESSORS)
+    def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
         def _key_name(key):
             if key == "param":
                 key = "shortName"
@@ -409,11 +408,10 @@ def override(self, *args, headers_only_clone=True, **kwargs):
             handle.set_values(vals)
 
         # ensure that the cache settings are the same
-        cache = self._cache
-        if cache is not None:
-            cache = cache.__class__()
+        return StandAloneGribMetadata(handle, cache=MetadataCacheHandler.clone_empty(self._cache))
 
-        return StandAloneGribMetadata(handle, cache=cache)
+    def namespaces(self):
+        return self.NAMESPACES
 
     def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
         r"""Return all the keys/values from a namespace.
@@ -450,6 +448,12 @@ def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
     def geography(self):
         return GribFieldGeography(self)
 
+    def datetime(self):
+        return {
+            "base_time": self.base_datetime(),
+            "valid_time": self.valid_datetime(),
+        }
+
     def base_datetime(self):
         return self._datetime("dataDate", "dataTime")
 
@@ -476,9 +480,6 @@ def _datetime(self, date_key, time_key):
     def param_level(self):
         return f"{self.get('shortName')}{self.get('level', default='')}"
 
-    def namespaces(self):
-        return self.NAMESPACES
-
     def dump(self, namespace=all, **kwargs):
         r"""Generate dump with all the metadata keys belonging to ``namespace``.
 
@@ -531,6 +532,22 @@ def dump(self, namespace=all, **kwargs):
 
         return format_namespace_dump(r, selected="parameter", details=self.__class__.__name__, **kwargs)
 
+    def ls_keys(self):
+        return self.LS_KEYS
+
+    def describe_keys(self):
+        return self.DESCRIBE_KEYS
+
+    def index_keys(self):
+        return self.INDEX_KEYS
+
+    def data_format(self):
+        return "grib"
+
+    @property
+    def gridspec(self):
+        return self.geography.gridspec()
+
 
 class GribFieldMetadata(GribMetadata):
     """Represent the metadata of a GRIB field.
@@ -594,18 +611,14 @@ def __getstate__(self) -> dict:
         ret = {}
         ret["_handle"] = self._handle.get_buffer()
         # we do not serialize the cache contents
-        ret["_cache"] = self._cache if self._cache is None else self._cache.__class__
+        ret["_cache"] = MetadataCacheHandler.serialise(self._cache)
         return ret
 
     def __setstate__(self, state: dict):
         from earthkit.data.readers.grib.memory import GribMessageMemoryReader
 
-        cache = state.pop("_cache")
-        if cache is not None:
-            cache = cache()
-
+        self._cache = MetadataCacheHandler.deserialise(state.pop("_cache"))
         self.__handle = next(GribMessageMemoryReader(state.pop("_handle"))).handle
-        self._cache = cache
 
 
 class RestrictedGribMetadata(WrappedMetadata):
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/output.py b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/output.py
index e9a635a8..7cccebf4 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/output.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/readers/grib/output.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def encode(
         metadata={},
         template=None,
         return_bytes=False,
+        missing_value=9999,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         # Make a copy as we may modify it
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def encode(
 
             if np.isnan(values).any():
                 # missing_value = np.finfo(values.dtype).max
-                missing_value = 9999
+                missing_value = missing_value
                 values = np.nan_to_num(values, nan=missing_value)
                 metadata["missingValue"] = missing_value
                 metadata["bitmapPresent"] = 1
@@ -120,8 +121,13 @@ def encode(
             for k in ("class", "type", "stream", "expver", "setLocalDefinition"):
                 metadata.pop(k, None)
 
+        # TODO: revisit that logic
         if "generatingProcessIdentifier" not in metadata:
             metadata["generatingProcessIdentifier"] = 255
+        else:
+            # kee
+            if metadata["generatingProcessIdentifier"] is None:
+                metadata.pop("generatingProcessIdentifier")
 
         LOG.debug("GribOutput.metadata %s", metadata)
 
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/readers/netcdf/field.py b/src/earthkit/data/readers/netcdf/field.py
index 45a84731..33d98005 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/readers/netcdf/field.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/readers/netcdf/field.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from earthkit.data.core.geography import Geography
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import MetadataAccessor
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import RawMetadata
+from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import NewFieldMetadataWrapper
 from earthkit.data.utils.bbox import BoundingBox
 from earthkit.data.utils.dates import to_datetime
 
@@ -98,12 +99,10 @@ class XArrayMetadata(RawMetadata):
     ]
     MARS_KEYS = ["param", "step", "levelist", "levtype", "number", "date", "time"]
 
-    CUSTOM_ACCESSOR = MetadataAccessor(
-        {
-            "valid_datetime": ["valid_datetime", "valid_time"],
-            "base_datetime": ["base_datetime", "forecast_reference_time", "base_time"],
-        }
-    )
+    ACCESSORS = {
+        "valid_datetime": ["valid_datetime", "valid_time"],
+        "base_datetime": ["base_datetime", "forecast_reference_time", "base_time"],
+    }
 
     def __init__(self, field):
         if not isinstance(field, XArrayField):
@@ -160,6 +159,9 @@ def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
     def geography(self):
         return XArrayFieldGeography(self, self._field._ds, self._field.variable)
 
+    def namespaces(self):
+        return self.NAMESPACES
+
     def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
         if not isinstance(namespace, str) and namespace is not None:
             raise TypeError("namespace must be a str or None")
@@ -180,6 +182,12 @@ def _as_mars(self):
             time=self.get("time", None),
         )
 
+    def datetime(self):
+        return {
+            "base_time": self.base_datetime(),
+            "valid_time": self.valid_datetime(),
+        }
+
     def base_datetime(self):
         v = self.valid_datetime()
         if v is not None:
@@ -189,7 +197,8 @@ def valid_datetime(self):
         if self.time is not None:
             return to_datetime(self.time)
 
-    def _get(self, key, default=None, raise_on_missing=False, **kwargs):
+    @MetadataAccessor(ACCESSORS)
+    def get(self, key, default=None, *, raise_on_missing=False, **kwargs):
         if key.startswith("mars."):
             key = key[5:]
             if key not in self.MARS_KEYS:
@@ -209,7 +218,10 @@ def _key_name(key):
                 key = "level"
             return key
 
-        return super()._get(_key_name(key), default=default, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing, **kwargs)
+        return super().get(_key_name(key), default=default, raise_on_missing=raise_on_missing, **kwargs)
+
+    def ls_keys(self):
+        return self.LS_KEYS
 
 
 class XArrayField(Field):
@@ -283,6 +295,15 @@ def tidy(x):
 
         return tidy(self._ds[self._ds[self.variable].grid_mapping].attrs)
 
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        return NewMetadataXarrayField(self, **kwargs)
+
+
+class NewMetadataXarrayField(NewFieldMetadataWrapper, XArrayField):
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        NewFieldMetadataWrapper.__init__(self, field, **kwargs)
+        XArrayField.__init__(self, field.ds, field.variable, field.slices, field.non_dim_coords)
+
 
 class NetCDFMetadata(XArrayMetadata):
     pass
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/sources/array_list.py b/src/earthkit/data/sources/array_list.py
index 0d99c064..ec548ad4 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/sources/array_list.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/sources/array_list.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import math
 
 from earthkit.data.core.fieldlist import Field
+from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import NewFieldMetadataWrapper
 from earthkit.data.utils.array import array_namespace
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -39,9 +40,10 @@ def __init__(self, array, metadata):
             metadata = UserMetadata(metadata, values=array)
 
         # TODO: this solution is questionable due to performance reasons
-        metadata = metadata._hide_internal_keys()
+        if metadata is not None:
+            metadata = metadata._hide_internal_keys()
 
-        super().__init__(metadata=metadata)
+        self.__metadata = metadata
         self._array = array
 
     def _values(self, dtype=None):
@@ -73,7 +75,11 @@ def write(self, f, **kwargs):
         """
         from earthkit.data.writers import write
 
-        write(f, self.to_numpy(flatten=True), self._metadata, **kwargs)
+        write(f, self, values=self.to_numpy(flatten=True), **kwargs)
+
+    @property
+    def _metadata(self):
+        return self.__metadata
 
     @property
     def handle(self):
@@ -87,8 +93,16 @@ def __getstate__(self) -> dict:
 
     def __setstate__(self, state: dict):
         self._array = state.pop("_array")
-        metadata = state.pop("_metadata")
-        super().__init__(metadata=metadata)
+        self.__metadata = state.pop("_metadata")
+
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        return NewMetadataArrayField(self, **kwargs)
+
+
+class NewMetadataArrayField(NewFieldMetadataWrapper, ArrayField):
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        NewFieldMetadataWrapper.__init__(self, field, **kwargs)
+        ArrayField.__init__(self, field._array, None)
 
 
 def from_array(array, metadata):
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/sources/forcings.py b/src/earthkit/data/sources/forcings.py
index e8730f4e..b7cc9c5c 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/sources/forcings.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/sources/forcings.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import datetime
 import itertools
 import logging
+from functools import cached_property
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@
 from earthkit.data.core.metadata import RawMetadata
 from earthkit.data.decorators import cached_method
 from earthkit.data.decorators import normalize
+from earthkit.data.indexing.fieldlist import NewFieldMetadataWrapper
 from earthkit.data.utils.dates import to_datetime
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -35,6 +37,12 @@ def __init__(self, d, geography):
     def geography(self):
         return self._geo
 
+    def datetime(self):
+        return {
+            "base_time": self.base_datetime(),
+            "valid_time": self.valid_datetime(),
+        }
+
     def base_datetime(self):
         return None
 
@@ -44,6 +52,9 @@ def valid_datetime(self):
     def step_timedelta(self):
         return datetime.timedelta()
 
+    def ls_keys(self):
+        return self.LS_KEYS
+
 
 class ForcingMaker:
     def __init__(self, field):
@@ -225,17 +236,18 @@ def __init__(self, maker, date, param, proc, number=None):
         self.number = number
         # self._shape = shape
         # self._geometry = self.maker.field.metadata().geography
+
+    @cached_property
+    def _metadata(self):
         d = dict(
-            valid_datetime=date if isinstance(date, str) else date.isoformat(),
-            param=param,
+            valid_datetime=self.date if isinstance(self.date, str) else self.date.isoformat(),
+            param=self.param,
             level=None,
             levelist=None,
-            number=number,
+            number=self.number,
             levtype=None,
         )
-        super().__init__(
-            metadata=ForcingMetadata(d, self.maker.field.metadata().geography),
-        )
+        return ForcingMetadata(d, self.maker.field.metadata().geography)
 
     def _values(self, dtype=None):
         values = self.proc(self.date)
@@ -243,10 +255,19 @@ def _values(self, dtype=None):
             values = values.astype(dtype)
         return values
 
+    def copy(self, **kwargs):
+        return NewMetadataForcingField(self, **kwargs)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "ForcingField(%s,%s,%s)" % (self.param, self.date, self.number)
 
 
+class NewMetadataForcingField(NewFieldMetadataWrapper, ForcingField):
+    def __init__(self, field, **kwargs):
+        NewFieldMetadataWrapper.__init__(self, field, **kwargs)
+        ForcingField.__init__(self, field.maker, field.date, field.param, field.proc, number=field.number)
+
+
 def make_datetime(date, time):
     if time is None:
         return date
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/utils/metadata/dict.py b/src/earthkit/data/utils/metadata/dict.py
index 46b0d5f4..f714875a 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/utils/metadata/dict.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/utils/metadata/dict.py
@@ -231,22 +231,12 @@ class UserMetadata(Metadata):
         ("param", "shortName"),
     ]
 
-    CUSTOM_ACCESSOR = MetadataAccessor(
-        {
-            "base_datetime": "base_datetime",
-            "valid_datetime": "valid_datetime",
-            "step_timedelta": "step_timedelta",
-            "param_level": "param_level",
-        },
-        aliases=[
-            ("dataDate", "date"),
-            ("dataTime", "time"),
-            ("forecast_reference_time", "base_datetime"),
-            ("level", "levelist"),
-            ("step", "endStep", "stepRange"),
-            ("param", "shortName"),
-        ],
-    )
+    ACCESSORS = {
+        "base_datetime": "base_datetime",
+        "valid_datetime": "valid_datetime",
+        "step_timedelta": "step_timedelta",
+        "param_level": "param_level",
+    }
 
     LS_KEYS = ["param", "level", "base_datetime", "valid_datetime", "step", "number"]
 
@@ -259,6 +249,9 @@ def __len__(self):
     def __contains__(self, key):
         return key in self._data
 
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        return self.get(key, raise_on_missing=True)
+
     def __iter__(self):
         return iter(self._keys())
 
@@ -268,7 +261,8 @@ def keys(self):
     def items(self):
         return self._data.items()
 
-    def _get(self, key, default=None, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
+    @MetadataAccessor(ACCESSORS, ALIASES)
+    def get(self, key, default=None, *, astype=None, raise_on_missing=False):
         def _key_name(key):
             if key in self._data:
                 return key
@@ -291,6 +285,12 @@ def _key_name(key):
         else:
             return astype(v)
 
+    def datetime(self):
+        return {
+            "base_time": self.base_datetime(),
+            "valid_time": self.valid_datetime(),
+        }
+
     def base_datetime(self):
         v = self._get_one(["base_datetime", "forecast_reference_time"])
         if v is not None:
@@ -344,3 +344,27 @@ def geography(self):
 
     def override(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise NotImplementedError("override is not implemented for UserMetadata")
+
+    def namespaces(self):
+        return []
+
+    def as_namespace(self, namespace=None):
+        return {}
+
+    def dump(self, **kwargs):
+        return None
+
+    def ls_keys(self):
+        return self.LS_KEYS
+
+    def describe_keys(self):
+        return []
+
+    def index_keys(self):
+        return None
+
+    def data_format(self):
+        return "dict"
+
+    def _hide_internal_keys(self):
+        return self
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/writers/__init__.py b/src/earthkit/data/writers/__init__.py
index 0ce0a602..70b94ba7 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/writers/__init__.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/writers/__init__.py
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ def write(self, f, values, metadata, **kwargs):
         pass
 
 
-def write(f, values, metadata, **kwargs):
-    x = _writers(metadata.data_format())
+def write(f, field, **kwargs):
+    x = _writers(field._metadata.data_format())
     c = x()
-    c.write(f, values, metadata, **kwargs)
+    c.write(f, field, **kwargs)
 
 
 @locked
diff --git a/src/earthkit/data/writers/grib.py b/src/earthkit/data/writers/grib.py
index 2362ab5c..415b1363 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/data/writers/grib.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/data/writers/grib.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 class GribWriter(Writer):
     DATA_FORMAT = "grib"
 
-    def write(self, f, values, metadata, check_nans=True, bits_per_value=None):
+    def write(self, f, field, values=None, check_nans=True, bits_per_value=None):
         r"""Write a GRIB field to a file object.
 
         Parameters
@@ -30,25 +30,25 @@ def write(self, f, values, metadata, check_nans=True, bits_per_value=None):
             Set the ``bitsPerValue`` GRIB key in the generated GRIB message. When
             None the ``bitsPerValue`` stored in the metadata will be used.
         """
-        handle = metadata._handle.clone()
 
-        if bits_per_value is None:
-            bits_per_value = metadata.get("bitsPerValue", 0)
+        from earthkit.data.readers.grib.output import new_grib_output
 
-        if bits_per_value != 0:
-            handle.set_long("bitsPerValue", bits_per_value)
+        output = new_grib_output(f, template=field)
 
-        if check_nans:
-            import numpy as np
+        md = {}
+        # wrapped metadata
+        if hasattr(field._metadata, "extra"):
+            md = {k: field._metadata._extra_value(k) for k, v in field._metadata.extra.items()}
 
-            if np.isnan(values).any():
-                missing_value = handle.MISSING_VALUE
-                values = np.nan_to_num(values, nan=missing_value)
-                handle.set_double("missingValue", missing_value)
-                handle.set_long("bitmapPresent", 1)
+        if bits_per_value is not None:
+            if field._metadata.get("bitsPerValue", 0) != bits_per_value:
+                md["bitsPerValue"] = bits_per_value
 
-        handle.set_values(values)
-        handle.write(f)
+        # keep the original generatingProcessIdentifier if not set
+        if "generatingProcessIdentifier" not in md:
+            md["generatingProcessIdentifier"] = None
+
+        output.write(values, check_nans=check_nans, missing_value=field.handle.MISSING_VALUE, **md)
 
 
 Writer = GribWriter
diff --git a/tests/core/test_metadata.py b/tests/core/test_metadata.py
index 11779cec..45344009 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_metadata.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def test_grib_metadata_override_headers_only_false():
         md2["average"]
 
 
-def test_grib_metadata_wrapped():
+def test_grib_metadata_wrapped_core():
     ds = from_source("file", earthkit_examples_file("test.grib"))
     md = ds[0].metadata()
     md_num = len(md)
@@ -399,6 +399,43 @@ def test_grib_metadata_wrapped():
         break
 
 
+def test_grib_metadata_wrapped_callable():
+    ds = from_source("file", earthkit_examples_file("test4.grib"))
+    md = ds[0].metadata()
+    assert md["perturbationNumber"] == 0
+    assert md["shortName"] == "t"
+    assert md["levelist"] == 500
+
+    def _func1(fs, key, original_metadata):
+        return original_metadata.get("param") + "_" + original_metadata.get("levelist", astype=str)
+
+    def _func2(fs, key, original_metadata):
+        return fs.mars_area
+
+    def _func3(fs, key, original_metadata):
+        return "_" + str(original_metadata.get(key))
+
+    extra = {
+        "my_custom_key": "2",
+        "name": _func1,
+        "mars_area": _func2,
+        "gridType": _func3,
+        "perturbationNumber": 3,
+    }
+    md_ori = StandAloneGribMetadata(md._handle)
+    from earthkit.data.core.metadata import WrappedMetadata
+
+    # extra keys are not added to the metadata
+    md = WrappedMetadata(md_ori, extra=extra, owner=ds[0])
+
+    assert md["my_custom_key"] == "2"
+    assert md["perturbationNumber"] == 3
+    assert md["name"] == "t_500"
+    assert np.allclose(np.array(md["mars_area"]), np.array([90.0, 0.0, -90.0, 359.0]))
+    assert md["gridType"] == "_regular_ll"
+    assert md["typeOfLevel"] == "isobaricInhPa"
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from earthkit.data.testing import main
 
diff --git a/tests/grib/test_grib_copy.py b/tests/grib/test_grib_copy.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3cb1dce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/grib/test_grib_copy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# (C) Copyright 2020 ECMWF.
+#
+# This software is licensed under the terms of the Apache Licence Version 2.0
+# which can be obtained at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
+# In applying this licence, ECMWF does not waive the privileges and immunities
+# granted to it by virtue of its status as an intergovernmental organisation
+# nor does it submit to any jurisdiction.
+#
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
+from earthkit.data import FieldList
+from earthkit.data import from_source
+from earthkit.data.core.temporary import temp_file
+
+here = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+sys.path.insert(0, here)
+from grib_fixtures import load_grib_data  # noqa: E402
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("fl_type", ["file", "array", "memory"])
+def test_grib_copy_core(fl_type):
+    ds_ori, _ = load_grib_data("test4.grib", fl_type)
+
+    def _func1(field, key, original_metadata):
+        return original_metadata[key] + 100
+
+    def _func2(field, key, original_metadata):
+        return field.mars_area
+
+    def _func3(field, key, original_metadata):
+        return original_metadata.get("param") + "_" + str(original_metadata.get("levelist"))
+
+    # ---------------
+    # field
+    # ---------------
+
+    f = ds_ori[0].copy(
+        param="q",
+        levelist=_func1,
+        mars_area=_func2,
+        name=_func3,
+    )
+
+    assert f.metadata("param") == "q"
+    assert f.metadata("shortName") == "t"
+    assert f.metadata("level") == 500
+    assert f.metadata("levelist") == 600
+    assert f.metadata("date", "param") == (20070101, "q")
+    assert f.metadata("param", "date") == ("q", 20070101)
+    assert np.allclose(np.array(f.metadata("mars_area")), np.array([90.0, 0.0, -90.0, 359.0]))
+    assert f.metadata("name") == "t_500"
+
+    # TODO: apply wrapped metadata to namespaces
+    assert f.metadata(namespace="mars") == {
+        "class": "ea",
+        "date": 20070101,
+        "domain": "g",
+        "expver": "0001",
+        "levelist": 500,
+        "levtype": "pl",
+        "param": "t",
+        "step": 0,
+        "stream": "oper",
+        "time": 1200,
+        "type": "an",
+    }
+
+    # write back to grib
+    # we can only have ecCodes keys
+    with temp_file() as tmp:
+        f = ds_ori[0].copy(
+            param="q",
+            levelist=_func1,
+        )
+
+        f.save(tmp)
+        f_saved = from_source("file", tmp)[0]
+        assert f_saved.metadata("param") == "q"
+        assert f_saved.metadata("shortName") == "q"
+        assert f_saved.metadata("level") == 600
+        assert f_saved.metadata("levelist") == 600
+
+    # ---------------
+    # fieldlist
+    # ---------------
+
+    fields = []
+    for i in range(2):
+        f = ds_ori[i].copy(
+            param="q",
+            levelist=_func1,
+        )
+        fields.append(f)
+
+    ds = FieldList.from_fields(fields)
+
+    assert ds.metadata("param") == ["q", "q"]
+    assert ds.metadata("shortName") == ["t", "z"]
+    assert ds.metadata("level") == [500, 500]
+    assert ds.metadata("levelist") == [600, 600]
+
+    # write back to grib
+    with temp_file() as tmp:
+        ds.save(tmp)
+        ds_saved = from_source("file", tmp)
+        assert ds_saved.metadata("param") == ["q", "q"]
+        assert ds_saved.metadata("shortName") == ["q", "q"]
+        assert ds_saved.metadata("level") == [600, 600]
+        assert ds_saved.metadata("levelist") == [600, 600]
+
+    # TODO: implement the following
+    # serialise
+    # pickled_f = pickle.dumps(ds)
+    # ds_1 = pickle.loads(pickled_f)
+
+    # assert ds_1.metadata("param") == ["q", "q"]
+    # assert ds_1.metadata("shortName") == ["q", "q"]
+    # assert ds_1.metadata("level") == [600, 600]
+    # assert ds_1.metadata("levelist") == [600, 600]