Gardeners Downham Cookie Policy
Welcome to the cookie policy for Gardeners Downham. This statement explains how Gardeners of Downham and associated services use cookies and similar technologies. It covers what types of cookies we deploy, why we use them, and how you can exercise control. Understanding cookies helps you make informed choices when interacting with Downham gardeners' online presence.
What are cookies and why we use them
Cookies are small data files stored on your device. Essential cookies are required for basic functionality and security. Non-essential cookies include analytics for performance monitoring and marketing cookies for delivering relevant content. This policy describes each category in accessible terms so that users of Downham Gardeners can decide their preferences.
Scope and applicability
This policy applies to cookies placed during your visits to services and pages associated with our horticultural activity. It does not address other technologies or third-party platforms in detail, but it outlines the common types of cookies you may encounter. The information is intended for anyone engaged with Gardeners - Downham related materials.
Essential cookies: These cookies are necessary to provide the core features you expect. They maintain session integrity, secure logins, and enable shopping cart functionality where applicable. Essential cookies cannot be disabled via cookie settings because turning them off would affect basic operations.
Analytics and performance cookies: Analytics cookies collect aggregated data about how visitors use pages and services. The main purpose is performance monitoring — to measure page load times, identify slow components, and improve the reliability of the experience. By evaluating anonymous metrics, Downham gardeners can prioritize technical improvements and enhance usability for future visits.
Marketing and personalization cookies: These track preferences and help deliver more relevant messages. Marketing cookies may be used across sessions and devices to understand interests and optimize outreach. They are not required for basic functionality but support tailored content for those who opt in.
User control and choices: You have several ways to control cookies. Most modern browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies through settings. Additionally, where available, a cookie preference tool lets you accept or reject specific categories such as analytics or marketing. Choosing to block analytics cookies will limit performance monitoring capabilities but will not prevent essential operations.
Managing preferences: For people who prefer minimal tracking, disabling non-essential cookies reduces data collection. Note: disabling marketing cookies will stop personalized advertising and reduce cross-site profiling; disabling analytics cookies will limit our ability to conduct detailed performance monitoring that helps improve site speed and stability.
Data retention and third-party cookies: Some cookies are set by third-party providers to enable services like analytics platforms or advertising networks. Retention periods vary by provider and cookie type; performance cookies typically store short-lived identifiers used to aggregate usage statistics, while some marketing cookies may persist for longer to maintain user preferences.
Security and updates: We take steps to protect cookie data and review our cookie practices periodically. Updates to this policy will be published to reflect changes in technology or regulation. When updates are material, we aim to clarify changes in cookie purposes, including how performance monitoring is conducted.
The role of performance monitoring: Performance cookies enable technical teams responsible for Downham gardeners' digital platforms to detect slow-loading pages, track error rates, and assess improvements after changes are made. These cookies support informed decisions about infrastructure, code optimization, and content delivery, contributing to a faster and more reliable experience for visitors.
Final notes: This cookie notice aims to be transparent about the cookie categories used by Gardeners Downham, Downham gardeners, and related horticultural content. Users are encouraged to review their cookie settings regularly and make choices aligned with their privacy preferences.
