Privacy policy
Last updated: 28 October 2026
This policy explains what personal information Pixcellence collects when you use this website, why, who it is shared with and the choices you have. We have written it in plain English. If anything is unclear, contact us.
Who we are
Pixcellence (www.pixcellence.co.uk) is an independent publisher of guides to UK biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife law and climate change. It is run by its founder and editor, Clwyd Probert, who decides how personal information collected through this site is used. That makes him the data controller under UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018).
Pixcellence does not sell anything, take payments, run advertising or sell personal information.
What we collect and why
| When | What we collect | Why | Lawful basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| You read the site | Information about how the site is used: pages viewed, how you arrived, approximate location (country or region), device and browser type. This is collected through cookies and similar technologies (see below). | To understand which guides are useful and improve the site | Consent for non-essential cookies; legitimate interests for cookie-free, aggregated statistics |
| You sign up for email updates | The details you enter in the sign-up form, usually your email address and name | To send you occasional emails about new and updated guides | Consent. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email |
| You contact us | The details you enter in the contact form and the content of your message | To reply to you | Legitimate interests (answering your enquiry) |
Please do not include sensitive personal information in messages to us.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. When you first visit, a banner asks whether you accept non-essential cookies. No analytics cookies are set until you accept. You can change your choice at any time:
| Provider | Cookies | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot (cookie banner) | __hs_opt_out, __hs_initial_opt_in, __hs_cookie_cat_pref, __hs_do_not_track | Remember your cookie choice or Do Not Track setting, so we don't ask again. These are needed for the banner to work. |
| HubSpot (analytics) | __hstc, hubspotutk, __hssc, __hssrc | Count visits and sessions and link form sign-ups to visits. Set only if you accept cookies. |
| Google Analytics 4 | _ga, _ga_<ID> | Measure how the site is used, with a pseudonymous identifier. Set only if you accept cookies. They usually last up to two years. |
Google Analytics only loads if you accept cookies. Until you choose, or if you decline, it does not run and nothing is sent to Google. If you accept and later change your mind, we delete the Google Analytics cookies from your browser.
We also use Ahrefs Web Analytics to count visits. It does not use cookies, and Ahrefs states that it does not store IP addresses with analytics data.
You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or use Google's Analytics opt-out add-on.
Who we share information with
We use a small number of service providers who process information on our behalf:
- HubSpot: website hosting, the cookie banner, forms, email updates and visit analytics.
- Google: Google Analytics 4.
- Ahrefs: cookie-free website statistics.
We only share personal information with anyone else if the law requires it.
International transfers
Our service providers may store or process information outside the UK, including in the United States. Where they do, they rely on safeguards recognised under UK law, such as the UK Extension to the EU–US Data Privacy Framework or approved contract terms.
How long we keep information
- Email sign-ups: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete your details.
- Contact messages: for as long as needed to deal with your enquiry, and no more than two years after our last contact.
- Google Analytics: user-level data is deleted automatically at the end of the retention period set in our account, which is no more than 14 months.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
- ask us to correct or delete it;
- object to, or ask us to restrict, how we use it;
- ask for your information in a portable format;
- withdraw your consent at any time, for example by unsubscribing or changing your cookie choice.
To make a request, contact us. We will respond within one month. If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
Children
Our guides are written to support students, including at GCSE and A-level. You don't need to give any personal information to read them. If you are under 13, please ask a parent or guardian before signing up for email updates.
Changes to this policy
We will update this page if how we handle personal information changes, and change the date at the top.