Metal Detecting Permission letter

[johno]

Does anybody know where there is a site that has a permission letter template?
I'm not sure really what i should be stating or asking so any help would be most appreciated
cheers john

[mrix]

Interesting topic... I have seen a few across net but they don't normally fit for the UK.
Maybe we could get together a few idea`s here which we could use to build our own secret permissions weapon
So if members could respond to this topic with idea`s that could help such a permissions letter that would be
Cheers all
mrix

[mrix]

First idea...

I think in such letter for gaining any permissions if you can state you are a member of one of the UK`s main governing bodies like the N.C.M.D - National Council for Metal Detectorists or the F.I.D - Federation of Independant Detectorists

I guess that's definitely going to help towards assuring land owners.


Cheers
mrix

[mrix]

Just made up this for a start.. Please feel free to pick it to pieces and add anything you think will improve the letter.
Cheers
mrix

Mr
Street Address
City, Post Code
Phone No
Email address
DATE
Dear Sir / Madam),
My name is ------. I live in ------- for ------ years.
I have been interested in the hobby of metal detecting for past --------- and find it a facinating, enjoyable pastime. The chance of uncovering something that someone may of dropped, hundreds if not thousands of years ago and being able to retrieve that object after so long greatly fascinates me. I am currently a member of the “ N.CM.D or F.I.D “ which is the National governing body in Metal Detectorist`s.
Ideally I would prefer to approach you in person, but feel that a letter beforehand is far less intrusive and far less pressuring than just knocking at your door.
I am basically writing to ask for permission to use a metal detector on your property at ---------,

I would like to stress that I respect all properties that I search and always leave them in the same condition that I find them. I retrieve them in such a way thatyou would never know I had been there.

Enclosed is a self addressed envelope for your convenience and I would be very happy to meet with you if further discussion is required. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me by my phone number thats listed above.

Thank you very much for your time and your consideration.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Very Respectfully,

[mrix]

The letter I made up was bits I added and bits I had found around the net, please remember not to copy whole letter or content from other websites as it could get me in trouble
Hopefully the idea is to make something up a little more unique
Cheers all
mrix

[fenix]

thats a great idea...what about a letter that is intended to give notice of a follow up phone call or visit...
also best to find out the name of the landowner so you can address him by name, and do some research on the land first...you must grab his attention immediatly or he will just file it in the round cabinate.(waste bin)...the best way would be to enclose a couple of glossy photos of a viking/roman hoard that has been found previously.(not nessasarily by you). and exagerate a bit, ....

dear mr smith.

My name is ------. I live in ------- for ------ years.
I have been interested in the hobby of metal detecting for past --------- and find it a facinating, enjoyable pastime. The chance of uncovering something that someone may of dropped, hundreds if not thousands of years ago and being able to retrieve that object after so long greatly fascinates me. I am currently a member of the “ N.CM.D or F.I.D “ which is the National governing body in Metal Detectorist`s.
after researching the local area and studying aireal photographs of your land we have discovered interesting crop markings that may indicate stone age and roman settlements in the area and therefore would like to ask permission to metal detect on one of your empty fields.
I would like to stress that I respect all properties that I search and always leave them in the same condition that I find them. I retrieve them in such a way that you would never know I had been there.
maybe you have an interest in discovering more about the history of your area and would like to accompany me for a few hours detecting yourself , if so I could give you a copy of my research notes and provide you with a detector.
I have enclosed some photos of coins and gold artifacts that have been discovered by detectorists on farmland in the recent past.
all finds will be recorded and all rewards shared equally between the finder and the land owner.

Enclosed is a self addressed envelope for your convenience and I would be very happy to meet with you if further discussion is required. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me by my phone number thats listed above.
I appreciate you will be busy at this time of year so I will ring you in a week or so if I don't hear from you sooner.

yours sincerely
fred bloggs.

[mrix]

Very nice tweaks indeed
Thanks for the efforts fenix, those added extra`s have helped big time I am sure
If it is possible and if anyone else has any idea`s at all and could add to the letter like fenix has please post away
Please stick to what we have already and build on it.
Cheers and thanks
mrix

[chris3766]

To the Land owner of THE Fields

MY NAME:
MY ADDRESS
emaill
TEL
Greetings Sir or Mam I have lived in redhill NUFIELD for number of years. Normally I would prefer to approach you in person, but I feel that a letter beforehand is far less intrusive than just knocking on your door at an inconvenient TIME. and invading your privacy WOULD NOT BE THE WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS. I'm writing to ask for permission to use a metal detector on your fields. I've been engaged in the hobby for about 1 year now and I find that it is a good source of exercise. I realize this may be a strange request, but the thrill of finding old coins IS AMAZING , Recently I ran across information about the history of the area surrounding SURREY AND NUTFIELD On the net Needless to say, I’ve been intrigued about how old the area really is, and would love to try and find some thing on your land. I want you to know that I respect all properties that I search and always leave them in the same condition that I find them. Normally, the targets that I uncover are no more than four to six inches deep, and I retrieve them in such a way that the ground appears undisturbed. In addition, I would like to offer my services to you for free . Perhaps you or someone you know has lost a favorite piece of jewelry or other valued metal object. I would be glad to try and find it for you, just for the thrill of the search. Otherwise, if you have a couple of chores I can help you with while I’m there, I would be glad to offer a hand in return. I would be happy to meet with you if further discussion is required. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me anytime. My phone number is listed above. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

[Old Jeffers]

These look good!
I have some limited experience of on-line editing and proof reading so I would be happy to help if needed.
A standardised form letter would always work well, rather better than a haphazardly written note.

The person who reads it will probably try to make a judgement about the author of the letter (you) and may attempt to read 'between the lines'. That person will then decide if he wants to give the necessary permission or not. Ideally, the letter must be grammatically correct with no spelling errors and written in a way that the reader will find attractive.

It would be good to arouse the landowner's curiosity and get him to want you to search on his property as it's not going to cost him anything and it may well be to his financial benefit.

It would also be a good idea to enclose the 'Code of Conduct' in any such introductory letter.
A form letter could be made available on this forum so it may be downloaded and suitably personalised.
So just a few thoughts there.
I'll go and take my medication now and have a lie down!

[mrix]

Hi there Old Jeffers, welcome to the forums this topic is basically to throw some idea`s around so all idea`s are most welcome
If you could make something up from the idea`s suggested then all the better
Cheers and thanks
mrix

[Old Jeffers]

With due consideration I've removed the content of this post as the example given may have been subject to copyright.

[mrix]

Interesting letter but not much from what we have been putting together another option / idea for members to choose from I guess
Who is David Villaneuva ?

Cheers
mrix

[Westcoastdetector]

Letters can sometimes work , but in my experience farmers are very busy people & replyng to a letter is the last thing on their " to do " list . An approach in person , although more daunting , will probably yield better results & at least you get an instant answer

[Old Jeffers]

Who is David Villaneuva ?

David Villaneuva has written a number of books, eight I believe, on metal detecting, researching sites etc.
Here's a link to some of his books on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Permission-Impo ... 665&sr=1-1

I eMailed David a few days ago for some advice and he kindly replied and gave me a .pdf
that contained a 80 page guide to various aspects of this great hobby, which included the above letter.

[mrix]

Did he allow the use of it on this forum as it could be classed as Plagiarism if not.
Cheers
mrix

[Old Jeffers]

It's a free item and an example of how a letter seeking permission to search should be formatted.
As he is the Chairman of the Swale Search and Recovery Club I would have thought that its reproduction here would cause no problems. His interests and the knowledge that the hobby
is already suffering from a degree of 'over-legislation' puts all of us in much the same boat.
As you quite rightly point out this letter is not so very different from the others already suggested.
Its pretty much as I would have written it.
However, it is subject to copyright and thus I will edit my previous post in order that it be removed and I shall re-format it at a later time in order to merely get the same message across.
Thank you for reminding me......as I presently moderate a similar forum and have recently stepped down as webmaster/chief cook and bottle-washer on another it is occasionally a little difficult for me to remember that I'm just an ordinary punter on the others to which I contribute.
My apologies.
I'll get my coat.

[mrix]

Hi Old Jeffers, no problem and thanks for editing
I have other forums on different topics also and realise you have to be careful
Cheers
mrix

[Old Jeffers]

I've had a thought! (It had to happen sooner or later! )

Here's a link to David Villaneuva's book site where anyone who is interested may download
his free Guide. This contains a wealth of useful stuff including a form letter for seeking permission to search and allows you to take a look at the books he has written on treasure hunting. The guide is a very good read by itself.

http://www.truetreasurebooks.com/

[mrix]

Great stuff, I`ll take a look
Cheers
mrix

[galaxion]

ive dowloaded it nice intresting and free aswell thanks old jeffers

[chris3766]

i got a 4th metal detector the minelab explora 2 but need some help with it do you no what the best settings are for it i put it on iron mask but still picks up big bits of iron and just littil bit of help with settings pleas if not ill just get rid as i find no good i read the book it came with but still no good it works fin as its new but i am lost with it never had this much go rong for me thanks all for your time and the othere thing is do you no any thing about the sounds