Privacy Policy

Last updated: 11 November 2026

This policy explains what information Garden Plant Finder collects, why, and what your rights are. We have tried to keep it short and in plain English.

Who runs this website

Garden Plant Finder is a personal, non-commercial website based in the United Kingdom and run by the Garden Plant Finder team ("we", "us"). The person who operates the website is the data controller for the small amount of personal information described below. Personal names and addresses are not published on the site. You can reach us about anything on this page, including data protection requests, at hello@gardenplantfinder.com, and we will reply.

The short version

• You do not need an account to use the site, and there are no adverts.
• We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used, only if you agree to analytics cookies. We do not use advertising cookies.
• Your favourites, comparisons and garden plans are saved in your own browser, not on our server.
• We never sell your personal information.

Information saved in your browser

Some features remember your choices using your browser's local storage (a small storage area on your own device). This stays on your device; it is not sent to us. The full list is on the Cookie Policy page. You can delete it at any time by clearing your browser's site data.

When you email us

The contact form does not send anything by itself. It opens your own email app with your message ready, and nothing is sent until you press Send. If you email us, we receive your email address, your name if you include it, and your message. We use these only to reply to you (lawful basis: legitimate interests in answering your question). We delete emails we no longer need, usually within 12 months.

Website statistics (Google Analytics)

With your permission, we use Google Analytics, a service from Google, to see how visitors use the site: for example, which pages are popular, how people arrive (such as from a search engine), the type of device and browser used, and approximate location (country or city). This helps us improve the content. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technology, and the information is processed by Google on our behalf. We do not use it to identify you, and we do not share it for advertising.

Analytics only runs if you choose "Accept" in the cookie message. You can change your choice at any time (see the Cookie Policy). Lawful basis: your consent. Google Analytics data is kept for up to 14 months and then deleted automatically. Google may process data outside the UK under appropriate safeguards; see how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Google Search Console

We use Google Search Console to see how the site appears in Google search results (for example, which searches show our pages). It does not place cookies on your device or give us information about individual visitors.

Plant disease checker (photos)

If you use the plant disease checker, the photo you choose is sent to our server and passed to Google's Gemini AI service so it can suggest what might be wrong with your plant. Our server handles the photo in memory only and does not save it. Google processes the photo under its own terms; see the Gemini API terms and Google Privacy Policy. Please upload only photos of plants, and avoid photos that show people, faces or anything personal. Your past results are saved only in your own browser.

Server logs and security

Like almost every website, the server and our hosting provider automatically process technical information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages requested. This is used only to deliver the site, prevent abuse (for example, limiting how often a tool can be used) and fix errors. It is not used to identify or profile you (lawful basis: legitimate interests in running a secure website).

Third-party services and links

• Google Fonts: the site loads its fonts from Google Fonts on every page, which means your browser connects to Google's servers and shares your IP address with Google.
• External links: guides link to trusted sources such as the RHS. Those websites have their own privacy policies, which we do not control.

Children

The site is a general gardening resource and is not aimed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, to have it corrected or deleted, and to object to how it is used. To do any of this, email hello@gardenplantfinder.com. If you have any concerns, please contact us first and we will do our best to help. You also have the right to contact the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).

Changes to this policy

If the site starts collecting new information (for example, a newsletter or analytics), we will update this page first and change the date at the top.