United Kingdom Soil Quality Information Portal

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 1, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to SoilMapUK ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit our website at soilmapuk.com (the "Site").

Important: SoilMapUK is an independent, open-source educational project. We are NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to any UK government agency or institution.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We do not collect personal information unless you voluntarily provide it through contact forms or other means of communication. This may include:

  • Name and email address (if you contact us)
  • Any other information you choose to provide

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Site, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on pages
  • Referring website addresses
  • Date and time of visits

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

  • To provide and maintain the Site
  • To improve user experience and Site functionality
  • To analyze Site usage and trends
  • To respond to inquiries and provide support
  • To detect and prevent technical issues

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

  • With your explicit consent
  • To comply with legal obligations
  • To protect our rights and prevent fraud
  • With service providers who assist in Site operations (under strict confidentiality)

5. Third-Party Services

Our Site may contain links to external websites and references to third-party data sources, including:

  • GOV.UK official databases
  • UK Soil Observatory (UKSO)
  • LandIS Soilscapes Viewer
  • British Geological Survey (BGS)

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. Please review their respective privacy policies.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain automatically collected data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • The right to access your personal data
  • The right to correct inaccurate data
  • The right to request deletion of your data
  • The right to object to data processing
  • The right to data portability

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. International Users

This Site is operated in the United Kingdom. If you access the Site from outside the UK, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the UK or other countries.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@soilmapuk.com (example - please update with actual contact)

13. Disclaimer

Important Notice: SoilMapUK is an independent open-source project. We aggregate publicly available data from various sources. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Users should conduct their own professional soil testing for specific land use decisions.