Hi Headshed, brill name by the way, i have woken up many a morrning and felt lkie my head was in the shed!
Anyway back to the sensible stuff, i was born and bred here, and now being 50! Most of the local land ownership has been past on to the son's and daughter's of the original farmers, so i was at school with a lot of them, who now make decisions, i will admit i am a bit like marmite, you either like me or can't stand me, no inbetween!
I was also a tree surgeon, for years and during the storms of Oct 87 and Jan 90, did a lot of local farmers/landowners a favour, clearing the roads so as they were not ripped off by the council and Dartmoor National Park Authority (spits)
So they do not forget! Being an active member of young farmers clubs etc, as a youngster, being local and not a blow in, volunteering to help with cattle shifting, milking, baling etc etc.
Not taking advantage of too many of their daughters, and seeing them home safely, or so they thought!
I could go on and on! But i do have a distinct advantage, as you can see, i took the most recent lady, to a site i already use to show them exactly what we are about, showed them loads of photo's and even directed them to BCUK. Nothing to hide, honesty of your intentions from the start.
Most farmers, have a bit of wood/ground that is of no use to them,apart from setaside grants etc, it's no good for grazing stock or growing crops etc, just the kind of places we yearn!
If you can converse with them, at an appropriate time! (difficult) And convince them of your intentions, they are worried about tesco bags in tree's , litter, pooh! parking,legal aspect, invasion, trace, burn scars,you have a chance.
And although, most plead poverty, they do like the sweetner of a £5.00 a night, also to say you will keep it strictly bushcraft and you will always accompany any campers (they are putting their faith in you) Coz they will visit you, when camping, and will have a nose around when you have gone! Don't take the mickey with numbers, oh yeah invite them up for a brew, show them what we are all about,always handy to have a fire crane, spoon carving going on etc etc, give them a spoon to take home to show wife/kid's etc.
I could go on, but if you have not the confidence to knock on the door (do not phone!) and do not have all of the unfair advantages i have listed, then you will get more no's than yay's, but the day you strike you will cherish.