Guidance

Peatland management monitoring privacy notice

Updated 13 November 2024

Applies to England

Who collects your personal data

The data controller is Natural England at:

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, Y01 7PX

Send questions about how Natural England uses your personal data and your associated rights to the Natural England Data Protection Manager at foi@naturalengland.org.uk or:

Natural England, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

The Data Protection Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group is responsible for checking that Natural England complies with legislation. You can contact them at DefraGroupDataProtectionOfficer@defra.gov.uk or:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, SW Quarter, 2nd floor, Seacole Block, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

What personal data’s collected and how it’s used

Natural England collects and stores your name and contact details when you register to take part in peatland management monitoring.

These are used to:

• validate the data you provide through the Peatland Management Monitoring Survey App
• contact you about the app - for instance, with updates
• contact you about the peatland management monitoring survey

When you use the app, it will record your location to become part of the biological monitoring record.

The legal basis for processing your personal data

Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest. The task is to:

• promote nature conservation
• protect biodiversity
• conserve and enhance the landscape

Consent to process your personal data

The processing of your data is not based on consent. You cannot withdraw it.

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

Natural England separates the location information associated with the biological monitoring record from your name and contact details. The biological monitoring records are then made public under the Open Government Licence.

Natural England does not share your name or contact details.

Natural England respects personal privacy when responding to access to information requests. We only share information when necessary to meet the statutory requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

How long Natural England holds personal data

Natural England will keep your:

• name and contact details for 2 years after the last recorded use of the app
• location data used for biological monitoring as part of its long-term scientific dataset for future research

What happens if you do not provide the data

If you do not register with the app, Natural England will treat any survey data you provide through the app as anonymous. This means your data is recorded with a lower degree of confidence or, if not validated, it may not be used.

Use of automated decision-making or profiling

The information you provide is not used for:

• automated decision making (making a decision by automated means without any human involvement)
• profiling (automated processing of personal data to evaluate certain things about an individual)

Transfer of data outside of the UK

Natural England will only transfer your data to another country that is deemed adequate for data protection purposes.

Your rights

Find out about your individual rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Complaints

You have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at any time.

Natural England’s personal information charter

Natural England’s personal information charter explains more about your rights over your personal data.