Privacy Policy

This privacy policy notice is served by The Black Gardener under the website www.theblackgardener.co.uk.

The purpose of this policy is to explain how we control, process, handle and protect your personal information through the business and while you browse or use this website. If you don’t agree to the following policy, you may wish to cease viewing/using this website, and/or to refrain from submitting your personal data to us.

Policy key definitions:

  • “I”, “our”, “us” and “we” refers to the business, The Black Gardener.
  • “You” and “the user” refers to the person(s) using this website.
  • GDPR means General Data Protection Act.
  • PECR means Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulation.
  • ICO means Information Commissioner’s Office.
  • Cookies mean small files stored on a user’s computer or device.

Key principles of GDPR:

Our privacy policy embodies the following key principles; (a) lawfulness, fairness and transparency, (b) purpose limitation, (c) data minimisation, (d) accuracy, (e) storage limitation, (f) integrity and confidence, (g) accountability.

Processing of your personal data

Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) we control and/or process any personal information about you electronically using the following lawful bases.

  • Lawful basis: Email marketing
  • Where our purpose for processing is: To keep you updated with events at The Black Gardener.
  • We process your information in the following ways: We contact you an average of no more than once per month on an opt-in only basis.
  • Data retention period: We will continue to process your information under this basis until you withdraw consent or it is determined your consent no longer exists.
  • Sharing your information: We do not share your information with third parties. 
  • Lawful basis: COVID-19 compliance
  • Where our purpose for processing is: To maintain COVID-19 best practice compliance as outlined by the UK government.
  • We process your information in the following ways: Data is stored temporarily to provide contact tracing in the event of a positive test for COVID-19.
  • Data retention period: We will continue to process your information under this basis until you withdraw consent or it is determined your consent no longer exists.
  • Sharing your information: We do not share your information with third parties. 
  • Lawful basis: Website cookies
  • Where our purpose for processing is: To provide the best possible user experience on our website.
  • We process your information in the following ways: We may store cookies on your machine to remember your behaviour and offer personalised services
  • Data retention period: We will continue to process your information under this basis until you withdraw consent or it is determined your consent no longer exists.
  • Sharing your information: We do not share your information with third parties. 

If, as determined by us, the lawful basis upon which we process your personal information changes, we will notify you about the change and any new lawful basis to be used if required. We’ll stop processing your personal information if the lawful basis used is no longer relevant.

Your individual rights

Under the GDPR your rights are as follows. You can read more about your rights in detail here:

  • The right to be informed.
  • The right of access.
  • The right to rectification.
  • The right to erasure.
  • The right to restrict processing.
  • The right to data portability.
  • The right to object.
  • The right to not be subject to automated decision-making including profiling.

You also have the right to complain to the ICO [www.ico.org.uk] if you feel there’s a problem with the way we’re handling your data.

We handle subject access requests in accordance with the GDPR.

Internet cookies

We use cookies on this website to provide you with a better user experience. We do this by placing a small text file on your device/computer hard drive to track how you use the website, to log whether you’ve seen messages that we display, to keep you logged into the website and to display relevant adverts or content.

Some cookies are required to use the full functionality of this website.

We use a cookie control system which allows you to accept the use of cookies and control which cookies are saved to your device/computer. Some cookies will be saved for specific time periods, while others may last indefinitely. Your web browser should provide you with the controls you need to manage and delete cookies from your device. Please see your web browser options for further information.

Data security and protection

We ensure the security of any personal information we hold by using secure data storage technologies and precise procedures. Our methods meet GDPR requirements.

Email marketing messages and subscription

We only use the opt-in method for anyone subscribing to our mailing list. Any email marketing messages are sent through an email marketing service (EMS) provider. 

Our email marketing messages may contain tracked links and similar technologies to track subscriber activity. These may record a range of data such as times, dates, IP addresses, opens, clicks, forwards, geographic and demographic data. 

All email marketing are sent in accordance with the GDPR and the PECR. We provide you with an easy method to withdraw your consent (unsubscribe) or to manage your preferences and the information we hold about you.