About auto-responses

An auto-response is an automatic reply to an email that someone sends to our email address. For example, the website can reply with a courtesy message to an enquiry via our website's Contact form.

Or a VCV member can request the location of a site that is not made publicly available on the Sites page. For example, an email message sent to akeley@vcv.org.uk sends map information about the private site, Akeley Wood to the sender via text.  VCV manager can see which email address requested the map information because the request appears as an email in its inbox.

Building an auto-responder

TO BE VERIFIED STEVE T 20 Feb 2026 xx

Hint: For site locations, gather all the map references you might need by using StreetMap or Grid Reference Finder.

1. Log in to IONOS. The settings for email forwarding and auto-response are not inside the website editor.
2. Before you click on "Edit website", click "MENU v" in the top right corner. 
3. Alternatively, you can open a new tab and visit the following site, follow instruction from there:
   https://my.ionos.co.uk/email-overview
4. At the "Create email forward", enter the email address, such as Dingley.Dell or OddMeadow. 
   
5. At Forward emails, enter vcvmanager@gmail.com
   
6. Click Save.
   
7. At the next page (which shows your the email address), click the "Autoresponder Inactive" line.
8. At the Autoresponder page, slide the Autoresponder button.
   
9. Enter the subject, such as: Dingley Dell location
   
10. Enter our email address, vcvmanager@gmail.com
    
11. Enter a message. For a location, include information such as a postcode or an OS map reference, like HP23 5QG or SP 935139.
    
12. Click Save. The next page shows "The autoresponder settings have been updated" and a Palm Tree icon with the word Active.
    
13. Wait a few minutes for the setup to take place. 
    
14. Test the autoresponder. Send a simple email (for example to dingley.dell@vcv.org.uk). Be aware that the response might land in your Spam folder.