Website Privacy Policy

Last updated: 11 September 2026

This privacy policy explains how The Garden Design Doctor collects and uses personal information when you visit or interact with https://thegardendesign.doctor/ (the website).

This policy applies only to personal information collected through the website. It does not cover information collected through unrelated offline activities or other websites.

1. Who we are

The Garden Design Doctor is the controller of personal information collected through this website. This means we decide how and why that information is used.

If you have any questions about this policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:

Email: info@thegardendesign.doctor

Website: https://thegardendesign.doctor/

2. Personal information we collect

Depending on how you use the website, we may collect:

  • your name, email address, telephone number and any other contact details you provide;

  • information you include in an enquiry, contact form or other message sent through the website;

  • information about the service you are interested in;

  • technical information, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system and approximate location;

  • information about how you use the website, including pages visited, links selected, referral source and the date and time of visits; and

  • your cookie and consent preferences.

Please do not submit sensitive or special category personal information through the website unless it is necessary for your enquiry.

3. How we collect your information

We collect personal information:

  • directly from you when you complete a form, send an enquiry or otherwise contact us through the website;

  • automatically through cookies, server logs and similar technologies when you browse the website; and

  • from third party services used to operate, secure or analyse the website, where applicable.

4. How and why we use your information

We may use personal information collected through the website for the following purposes:

Purpose Lawful basis
To receive, review and respond to enquiries Legitimate interests in communicating with website visitors and responding to requests
To take steps requested by you before entering into a contract, such as discussing a potential service or quotation Steps necessary before entering into a contract
To provide a service you have requested Performance of a contract
To operate, maintain, secure and troubleshoot the website Legitimate interests in running a secure and effective website
To understand website use and improve its content and performance Consent where non-essential cookies or analytics technologies are used
To remember your cookie preferences Legitimate interests and compliance with legal obligations
To establish, exercise or defend legal claims and prevent misuse or fraud Legitimate interests in protecting our rights, users and website
To comply with a legal or regulatory requirement Legal obligation

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we consider whether our interests are balanced against your rights and freedoms. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

The website uses cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website.

Some cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function, remain secure or remember your privacy choices. These cookies do not require consent. Other cookies, such as analytics, functionality or advertising cookies, will only be used if you give consent through the cookie consent banner.

You can accept, reject or manage non-essential cookies using the options provided in the cookie consent banner. You can also change your browser settings to block or delete cookies. Blocking certain cookies may affect how the website works.

The cookie banner should be consulted for current details of the cookies used, their purposes, providers and durations.

6. Sharing your personal information

We may share personal information with trusted service providers where reasonably necessary to operate the website and respond to enquiries. These may include:

  • website hosting, maintenance and security providers;

  • email and communication providers;

  • website form providers;

  • analytics and cookie consent providers, where enabled;

  • professional advisers, insurers or regulators where necessary; and

  • law enforcement bodies, courts or other authorities where disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect legal rights.

Service providers are only permitted to use personal information for the agreed purpose and must protect it appropriately. We do not sell personal information collected through the website.

7. International transfers

Some website service providers may process personal information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we take steps to ensure that an appropriate safeguard is in place, such as UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses or another lawful transfer mechanism.

You may contact us if you would like more information about the safeguards used for a particular transfer.

8. How long we keep your information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to respond to an enquiry and meet legal, accounting or reporting requirements.

As a general guide:

  • unsuccessful or general website enquiries will normally be kept for up to 24 months after the last meaningful contact;

  • information connected with a contract or transaction may be kept for up to six years after the relationship or relevant accounting period ends, where required for legal, tax or record keeping purposes;

  • technical and security logs are kept only for a reasonable period required for security and troubleshooting; and

  • cookie information is retained for the period stated in the cookie consent tool or relevant cookie details.

We may retain information for longer where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims, resolve a dispute or comply with the law. Information may be securely deleted or anonymised when it is no longer required.

9. How we protect your information

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against accidental loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration or disclosure. However, no website or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

10. Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you the right to:

  • ask for access to the personal information we hold about you;

  • ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;

  • ask us to delete your personal information;

  • ask us to restrict how we use your personal information;

  • object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing;

  • receive certain information in a portable format or ask us to transfer it to another organisation; and

  • withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent.

These rights are not absolute, and exemptions may apply. We may need to request information to confirm your identity before acting on a request. We will normally respond within one month and will tell you if more time is required.

To exercise a right, email info@thegardendesign.doctor.

11. Automated decision making

We do not use personal information collected through the website to make decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on you solely by automated means.

12. Third party links

The website may include links to websites, embedded content or services operated by third parties. Those parties control their own use of personal information. We recommend reading their privacy information before providing personal data or allowing optional content to load.

13. Children’s privacy

The website is not intended for children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through it. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the website, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

14. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first at info@thegardendesign.doctor so that we can try to resolve the issue.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s data protection regulator:

Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes to the website, the services used on it or legal requirements. The latest version will be published on this page with a revised “last updated” date.