Privacy & Cookie Policy
This policy explains how Treecology Environmental Arboriculture collects, uses and protects your personal information when you use our website, contact us or use our services. We are committed to handling your information fairly, securely and in line with UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who we are
Treecology Environmental Arboriculture ("Treecology", "we", "us") is a family-run tree surgery business owned and run by David Peake as a sole trader. Treecology is responsible for the personal information described in this policy.
We keep your information private and only use it to deal with your enquiry or carry out the work you have asked us to do.
If you have any questions about this policy or your information, please contact us:
- Email: sales@treecology.org
- Phone: 01371 832883
The information we collect
We collect information you give us when you:
- fill in the enquiry or quote form on our website (your name, email address, address, postcode, phone number and message)
- phone, email or message us, including through Facebook or Instagram
- ask us to quote for, carry out or invoice work, for example your site address, access details, photographs of trees and billing details
- deal with us on behalf of a business, council or other organisation (your name, role and work contact details)
We also collect limited technical information when you visit our website, as described in the cookies section below.
How we use your information
We use your information to:
- respond to your enquiry and prepare a quote
- arrange, carry out and follow up the work you have asked for
- send invoices, take payment and keep our accounts
- apply for permissions on your behalf where needed, such as consent for work on trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order or in a conservation area
- meet our legal obligations, including tax, insurance and health and safety requirements
- keep our website working securely and understand how it is used
We will only send you marketing messages if you have agreed to receive them, and you can opt out at any time.
Our legal reasons for using your information
Under data protection law we must have a lawful basis for using your information. We rely on:
- Contract: where we need your information to quote for or carry out work you have asked for
- Legal obligation: where we must keep records, for example for tax purposes
- Legitimate interests: where we use information to run our business, respond to enquiries and keep our website secure, in ways you would reasonably expect
- Consent: for marketing messages and for non-essential cookies. You can withdraw your consent at any time
Who we share your information with
We do not sell your personal information. We only share it where we need to, with:
- EnviroArb Solutions, our sister consultancy within the Treecology Group, where your enquiry needs consultancy services such as a survey or report. We will tell you before we pass on your details
- Service providers who help us run our business, such as our website host, email provider and accounting software. They may only use your information on our instructions
- Local authorities, where we apply for permissions for tree work on your behalf
- Our insurers and professional advisers, where needed
- Others where the law requires it, for example HMRC or the police
Some of our service providers may store information outside the UK. Where this happens, we make sure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect it.
How long we keep your information
We do not hold on to your information for longer than we reasonably need to provide a quote and services. For example, if we carry out work for you, we keep only the records we are legally required to keep, such as invoices for tax purposes.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the information we hold about you
- ask us to correct information that is wrong or incomplete
- ask us to delete your information
- ask us to restrict or stop using your information
- object to us using your information for our legitimate interests or for marketing
- ask for your information to be transferred to another organisation
- withdraw your consent at any time, where we rely on consent
To use any of these rights, contact us using the details above. There is normally no charge, and we will respond within one month.
Keeping your information safe
We take sensible steps to protect your information and limit access to those who need it to enable us to provide relevant services to you. Our website uses an encrypted (HTTPS) connection.
Cookies
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. Some are essential for the site to work. Others help us understand how the site is used or allow content from other services to be shown.
Cookies we use
- Strictly necessary cookies: used by our website to work properly and securely, for example to protect our contact form from spam. These do not need your consent.
- Third-party content: our customer reviews are displayed using a widget provided by Trustindex, which shows reviews and profile pictures from Google. These services may set cookies or collect technical information, such as your IP address, when the reviews load.
- Analytics cookies: We use Google Analytics and to count visits and see how people use the site. These are only set with your consent.
Links to our Facebook and Instagram pages take you to those sites, which have their own privacy and cookie policies.
Managing cookies
You can change your cookie choices at any time using the cookie settings link at the bottom of each page. You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the website works.
Other websites
Our website contains links to other websites, including EnviroArb Solutions, Facebook and Instagram. This policy only covers our website, so please read the privacy policies of any other sites you visit.
Making a complaint
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please contact us first and we will do our best to put things right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated shown at the top.