Privacy Policy

We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our website visitors; this policy sets out how we will treat your personal information.

(1)    What information do we collect?

We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal data:

(a)    information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website (including your IP address, geographical location, browser type, referral source, length of visit and number of page views);

(b)    information that you provide to us for the purpose of registering with us (including name, email address;

(c)    information that you provide to us for the purpose of subscribing to our website services, email notifications and/or newsletters (including name, email address);

(d)    any other information that you choose to send to us;

(2)    Cookies

A cookie consists of information sent by a web server to a web browser, and stored by the browser. The information is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. This enables the web server to identify and track the web browser.

We use “session” cookies on the website.  We will use the session cookies to keep track of you whilst you navigate the website. Session cookies will be deleted from your computer when you close your browser.

We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of this website.  Google Analytics generates statistical and other information about website use by means of cookies, which are stored on users' computers.  The information generated relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of the website. Google will store this information.  Google's privacy policy is available at: http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html.

Most browsers allow you to reject all cookies, whilst some browsers allow you to reject just third party cookies.  For example, in Internet Explorer you can refuse all cookies by clicking “Tools”, “Internet Options”, “Privacy”, and selecting “Block all cookies” using the sliding selector.  Blocking all cookies will, however, have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites.

(3)    Using your personal data

Personal data submitted on this website will be used for the purposes specified in this privacy policy or in relevant parts of the website.

We may use your personal information to:

(a)    administer the website;

(b)    enable your use of the services available on the website;

(c)    send you email notifications which you have specifically requested;

(d)    send to you by email the INQUIRE newsletter that you have specifically requested (you can inform us at any time if you no longer require communications from us);

(e)    provide third parties with statistical information about our users – but this information will not be used to identify any individual user;

(f)    deal with enquiries and complaints made by you relating to the website; Where you submit personal information for publication on our website, we will publish and otherwise use that information in accordance with the license you grant to us.

We will not without your express consent, provide your personal information to any third parties for the purpose of direct marketing.

(4)     Disclosures

We may disclose information about you to any of our employees, officers, agents, suppliers or subcontractors insofar as reasonably necessary for the purposes as set out in this privacy policy. In addition, we may disclose information about you:

(a)    to the extent that we are required to do so by law;

(b)    in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings;

(c)    in order to establish, exercise or defend our legal rights (including providing information to others for thepurposes of fraud prevention and reducing credit risk); andExcept as provided in this privacy policy, we will not provide your information to third parties.

(5)    International data transfers

Information that we collect may be stored and processed in and transferred between any of the countries in which we operate in order to enable us to use the information in accordance with this privacy policy.

Information which you provide may be transferred to countries which do not have data protection laws equivalent to those in force in the European Economic Areas (EEA).

In addition, personal information that you submit for publication on the website will be published on the internet and may be available, via the internet, around the world.

You expressly agree to such transfers of personal information.

(6)    Security of your personal data

We will take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information.

We will store all the personal information you provide on our secure (password- and firewall- protected) servers. All electronic transactions you make to or receive from us will be encrypted using SSL technology.

Of course, data transmission over the internet is inherently insecure, and we cannot guarantee the security of data sent over the internet.

You are responsible for keeping your password and user details confidential. We will not ask you for your password.

(7)    Policy amendments

We may update this privacy policy from time-to-time by posting a new version on our website.  You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are happy with any changes.

(8)    Your rights

You may instruct us to provide you with any personal information we hold about you. 
You may instruct us not to process your personal data for marketing purposes by email at any time.  (In practice, you will usually either expressly agree in advance to our use of your personal data for marketing purposes, or we will provide you with an opportunity to opt-out of the use of your personal data for marketing purposes.)

(9)    Third party websites

The website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of third party websites.

(10)    Updating information

Please let us know if the personal information which we hold about you needs to be corrected or updated.

(11)     Contact

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our treatment of your personal data, please write to us by email bgci@inquirebotany.org or by post to BGCI, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BW, UK