2. How we may use cookies
Cookies may be used to:
- operate core website functions and keep the website secure;
- remember whether you have made a cookie choice;
- maintain a session or preserve information while moving between pages;
- understand how visitors find and use the website;
- measure performance and identify technical problems;
- remember optional preferences or enable embedded features;
- measure advertising or marketing activity where such tools are used and valid consent has been obtained; and
- protect forms and services against spam, fraud and misuse.
3. Consent and strictly necessary cookies
Strictly necessary cookies may be used without consent where they are essential to provide a service you have requested or to operate a core function securely. Examples can include security, load balancing, session management and storing your cookie preference.
Non-essential cookies, such as many analytics, functional and marketing cookies, should not be set before the required consent has been obtained. Where a consent tool is displayed, you can accept, reject or customise available categories. Continuing to browse by itself is not treated as consent to non-essential cookies.
4. Categories of cookies
Strictly necessary
These support essential operation, security, network management, accessibility and requested services. Disabling them through browser controls may prevent parts of the website from working correctly.
Analytics and performance
These help us understand matters such as page visits, traffic sources, device types, navigation patterns and technical errors. Information may be aggregated or pseudonymised, but consent may still be required before the technology is stored or accessed on your device.
Functional
These remember optional preferences or enable additional features, such as maps, videos, chat tools, language choices or enhanced forms. If they are disabled, the relevant feature may not work or may need to be enabled manually.
Marketing
These may measure campaigns, limit repeated advertisements, build an understanding of interests or support advertising on other services. We do not use this category unless the relevant tools are actually configured and the required consent has been obtained.
5. Cookie and technology register
The exact names and durations can change when the website, hosting platform or integrated services are updated. The categories below describe the types of technology that may appear. A live consent panel, where used, should provide the most current item-level information available at the time of your visit.
| Category | Typical purpose | When used | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consent or preference record | Remembers whether you accepted, rejected or customised optional cookies | When a cookie banner or settings tool is used | Usually several months, after which the choice may be requested again |
| Security and anti-abuse | Protects forms, sessions and infrastructure against malicious traffic, spam or fraud | Where necessary for secure operation | Session-based or a limited persistent period |
| Session and navigation | Maintains requested functionality while moving through the website | Where a feature requires it | Usually until the browser session ends |
| Analytics | Measures visits, pages, devices, traffic sources and performance | Only if analytics is enabled and consent has been obtained where required | Provider-dependent, commonly from a session to 24 months |
| Embedded content | Loads maps, video, social or other third-party content | Only where that content is present and enabled | Provider-dependent |
| Advertising or campaign measurement | Measures campaigns or supports advertising features | Only if configured and valid consent has been obtained | Provider-dependent |
This policy must be read together with the choices presented by any consent tool. A technology may be absent entirely if the corresponding service is not used on the website.
6. Third-party cookies and embedded services
Some features may be supplied by third parties, for example analytics, video, maps, appointment booking, payment, spam prevention, live chat or social-media content. Those providers may set or read their own cookies when their service is loaded.
Third parties control their own technologies and privacy practices. Their cookie names, purposes and durations may change independently. Where practical, optional third-party content should be blocked until the relevant consent is provided. You should review the provider’s own policy for further information.
7. How to change or withdraw your choice
Where the website displays a cookie settings control, you can use it to review and change available choices. Withdrawing consent does not make earlier processing unlawful, but it should prevent the relevant optional technologies from being used in future, subject to the time needed for settings to take effect.
You may need to refresh the page after changing a preference. Clearing cookies from your browser may also remove the stored preference, meaning the website asks for your choice again.
8. Browser and device controls
Most browsers allow you to view, block and delete cookies through privacy or security settings. You can often block all cookies, block third-party cookies, delete cookies when the browser closes or create site-specific rules. Mobile devices may provide separate controls for tracking, advertising identifiers and application permissions.
Blocking all cookies can affect essential functionality. Browser controls may not remove data already received by a provider, and they may not cover every similar technology. A website consent control and browser settings can therefore serve different purposes.
9. Pixels, local storage and server logs
Local or session storage can retain information in a browser without using a traditional cookie. Pixels and tags can report that a page or message was viewed. Server logs can record requests made to the website, including IP address, date, time, requested page, browser information and technical status codes.
The legal rules applying to these technologies depend on how they operate and what information is used. Where storage or access on your device is not strictly necessary, the same consent principles described above may apply.
10. Retention of cookie-related information
A cookie remains on a device for its configured duration unless it is deleted earlier. Information generated from cookies may be retained separately for a period appropriate to analytics, security, consent, accounting, complaint or legal requirements. We aim not to keep identifiable information longer than needed for the relevant purpose.
Consent records may be retained for a reasonable period so that we can demonstrate the choice made and respect it. Security logs may be retained long enough to investigate incidents and protect systems.
11. Updates and contact
We may update this policy when technologies, suppliers, legal requirements or website features change. The latest version will appear on this page with a revised date.
Questions about cookies or privacy can be sent to hello@greentide.co.uk. Further information about our broader use of personal information is available in our Privacy Policy.