Why We Even Have This Page
Here’s the thing: the internet loves data. And whilst we’d rather be outside counting curlews than cookies, the law (and basic decency) say we should tell you what happens when you visit MerkinchLNR.org.uk. Spoiler: not much. We respect your privacy the way we respect nesting ospreys, by keeping a good distance and not poking around unnecessarily.
In short, we collect a little info to make the site run smoothly and to see which pages people actually read. That’s it. No creepy tracking, no inbox ambushes, no selling your soul to an algorithm.
What We Collect (and Why We Bother)
When you visit our site, a few invisible things happen in the background - harmless little tech bits that help keep things ticking along:
- Basic analytics: We use anonymous data to see which pages people visit. It’s like counting footprints on a muddy path: we don’t know whose they are, just that someone’s been there.
- Cookies: Tiny digital crumbs that help remember preferences, like whether you’ve accepted our cookie notice. You can block them if you want; no hard feelings.
- Contact forms: If you fill one in, we get your name, email, and whatever you choose to tell us. We’ll only use it to reply - we’re not starting a newsletter empire.
We don’t store payment info, location data, or your browsing history. Honestly, we’d rather not know.
How We Keep It Safe
Your data sits on secure UK or EU-based servers, behind enough encryption to make even a determined badger give up. We only hold onto it for as long as we need; like milk, it has an expiry date. When it’s no longer relevant, it’s deleted faster than a midgie bite heals (almost).
We don’t share, sell, or swap data with third parties. Ever. Even if they offered us binoculars or biscuits.
Your Rights (Because You’ve Got Them)
Under UK GDPR, you can ask us what we know about you; which, frankly, won’t take long. You can also request corrections, deletions, or raise a complaint if something feels off. Just email us and we’ll sort it faster than you can say “data protection officer.”
If you’re really unhappy, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. They’re the official folks who handle complaints. We hope it won’t come to that, we’re friendly and fixable.
Third-Party Links & Electric Realities
Sometimes, we link to other sites - local groups, travel info, or even partners who help visitors plan journeys (some of whom might discuss topics like cheap car insurance). Once you leave our pages, though, their rules apply. Check their privacy policies if you’re curious or cautious.
We’re careful about who we link to: if they wouldn’t last five minutes on a Merkinch footpath, they don’t make the cut.
Cookies, Consent, and the Digital Biscuit Tin
Cookies are small text files that sit quietly on your device - not the chewy kind, sadly. We use them to remember preferences and measure traffic. You can decline non-of vital importance cookies using the little banner when you first visit. If you clear cookies later, you’ll just see the banner again, like déjà vu, but drier.
We’ll never use cookies to follow you across the internet. We’ve got better hobbies; like birdwatching.
Changes to This Policy
We might tweak this page occasionally to keep it up to date or a little less boring. Any major changes will appear here first. You can always check the date at the bottom to see when it was last updated. (We know, riveting stuff.)
Last updated: October 2025