Your Privacy

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 5, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Richard Fordham Tree Surgeons Ltd. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy informs you how we look after your personal data when you visit richardfordhamtreesurgeons.co.uk or engage our arboricultural services, and outlines your privacy rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

2. Data Controller

Richard Fordham Tree Surgeons Ltd is the data controller and is responsible for your personal data.

Company Name: Richard Fordham Tree Surgeons Ltd
Directors: Mr R D Fordham & Mrs D M Fordham
Registered in England No: 11306687
Address: Rumps Barn, Dowling Road, Bures, CO8 5AY
Phone: 01787 229933
Email: dawn.fordham@btinternet.com
ICO Registration: ZA843616

3. The Data We Collect & Lawful Basis

We collect and process personal data under the following legal bases:

Identity & Contact Data: (Names, emails, phone numbers). Collected to perform a Contract (providing tree surgery quotes and services) or based on Legitimate Interests (responding to online contact forms).
Location & Property Data: (Site and domestic addresses). Necessary to perform a Contract to carry out site inspections, safety assessments, tree removals, stump grinding, or hedge maintenance.
Technical Data: (IP addresses, cookies). Collected via our website based on Legitimate Interests to monitor traffic, secure, and maintain our online platform.

4. Purposes for Using Your Data

To process your requests for tree work, site clearance, or arboricultural surveys.
To coordinate our team's visits to your property or commercial site.
To manage local planning applications, such as submitting notices for tree works within Conservation Areas or trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on your behalf.
To manage billing, payments, VAT receipts, and professional business records.

5. Hosting & Data Residency

Our website is supported by secure managed infrastructure.

Data Location: Website traffic, data logs, and inquiry form data are stored on secure servers located within the United Kingdom.
Security: We utilise SSL encryption (HTTPS) to ensure all communications and data submitted through our digital contact forms remain secure.

6. Third-Party Service Providers

We do not trade or sell your information. We share your data only with selected partners required to perform our business duties:

Local Authorities: If we are acting on your instructions to obtain TPO (Tree Preservation Order) permissions or Conservation Area consents, relevant address details will be submitted to your local planning council.
Specialist Contractors: On larger commercial site clearances, we may coordinate with trusted, vetted sub-contractors (e.g., heavy machinery operators) and share specific site locations.
Payment Processors & Professional Advisers: Secure systems to handle invoicing, or our accountants/insurers to comply with legal obligations.

7. Data Retention

General Inquiry Data: Kept for 12 months if no site visit or quote is commissioned.
Client & Job Records: Kept for 6 years following completion of work to comply with UK tax rules, insurance conditions, and statutory business tracking regulations.
TPO / Statutory Permissions: Records relating to formal local authority tree works permissions are kept as part of our permanent safety and compliance logs.

8. Your Legal Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to Access, Correction, Erasure, Data Portability, and to Withdraw Consent. To exercise any of these rights, please contact Mrs D M Fordham at dawn.fordham@btinternet.com.