Privacy Policy

Who we are

Data controller

The Garden Digest is operated by Matt Pollard, based in West Sussex, United Kingdom. We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

For any privacy-related questions please contact us at thegardendigest@gmail.com.

Data collection

What we collect and why

We collect only the information necessary to provide you with a personalised weekly gardening newsletter. Specifically:

• Email address — to send your newsletter and frost alerts
• Postcode — to look up your local Met Office weather forecast and BGS soil data
• Garden profile answers — your responses to our six-question survey, used solely to personalise your newsletter content
• Payment data — processed securely by our payment provider; we never store card details ourselves
• Survey completion status — whether you have started or completed the garden profile survey

We do not collect data beyond what is listed above. We do not use cookies for tracking or advertising purposes.

Data use

How we use your data

Your data is used solely for the following purposes:

• Generating and sending your personalised weekly newsletter every Wednesday
• Sending frost alert emails when overnight temperatures are forecast to drop at your postcode
• Sending your welcome email when you first subscribe
• Processing your subscription payment
• Personalising newsletter content based on your garden profile answers

We will never sell your data to third parties. We will never use your data for advertising purposes. We will never share your data with any party other than the processors listed below, and only to the extent necessary to provide the service.

Your postcode and garden profile data are used to generate your newsletter content with the assistance of automated technology. No personal decisions are made about you on an automated basis — the technology is used solely to produce gardening advice relevant to your location and conditions.

Third parties

Data processors we use

To deliver the service, your data passes through the following categories of trusted third-party processors. Each is contractually bound to handle your data only as instructed and in accordance with UK data protection law.

You may request the specific name of any processor by contacting us at thegardendigest@gmail.com.

Data retention

How long we keep your data

We retain your personal data for as long as you hold an active subscription to The Garden Digest.

When you cancel your subscription or unsubscribe, your data will be deleted or anonymised within 30 days. Payment records may be retained for longer where required by financial regulations.

Your rights

Your rights under UK GDPR

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:

• Right of access — you can ask us what data we hold about you
• Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate data
• Right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your data
• Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to pause using your data
• Right to data portability — you can ask for a copy of your data in a portable format
• Right to object — you can object to us processing your data

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the address below. We will respond within 30 days.

If you believe we have not handled your data correctly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the ICO at ico.org.uk.

Updates

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page will always reflect when it was last changed. Significant changes will be communicated to active subscribers by email.