RHS Cookies Policy

Cookies are small unique text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit, which can be stored on your device.

We use Cookies and similar technologies that only remain on your device for as long as you keep your browser active (session) and cookies and similar technologies that remain on your device for a longer period (persistent). Cookies are placed by us when you visit our website, or by third parties. Some of the Cookies we use on our website collect, use and store some personal data. This may include your IP address, unique identifier, email address, device information, geo-location, browsing behaviour and Cookies consent preferences.

Cookies on our website

Cookies we use on our website allows us to -

Recognise you each time you visit our site and provide you with personalised content that matches your interests.
Help us see how the website visitors interact with our website and the number of visitors to our website. This helps us to improve the way our website is used and works. These Cookies are called ‘Performance’ Cookies.
Deliver personalised adverts relevant to you interests from the RHS on our website and on other platforms such as Facebook as well as deliver adverts on behalf of other companies, these Cookies are called ‘Advertising Cookies’.

To make our website work - These Cookies are called ‘Strictly Necessary Cookies’. These Cookies are required to make our website work and function properly. These Cookies helps us with things such as, taking payments, providing security, verifying your login account details, remembering who you are, remembering your shopping basket while you shop on our website and enabling you to complete forms. ‘Strictly Necessary Cookies’ cannot be turned off as they protect your data and ensures our website works properly. These Cookies do not contain any of your personal data.

Third parties may use their own cookies to gather anonymous information about site usage which may be used to provide relevant advertising on third party websites. Third-party cookies may enable functions on the sites provided by third parties such as twitter and facebook. They may also collect information that helps them identify your device, such as IP address or other unique or device identifiers.

Some third party cookies are placed by service providers to the RHS on our behalf to assist us with site operations, services, applications, advertisements and tools. For example, we use Google Analytics which gathers data on which pages you visit on our website and how long you spend on each webpage. This data helps us to better understand how our visitors interact with our website, make improvements and personalise advertisements.

We use other similar technologies to cookies like pixel tags, web beacons, clear GIFs, JavaScript, and local storage. These work in similar ways to cookies but can operate across all of your browsers, and in some instances may require management through your installed applications or device.

A web beacon is a tiny, invisible image placed within an email message that tells us whether you have opened an email, how often you have opened it, how you interacted with the email (such as the time you spent reading the email), which email software and web browser you used, whether you clicked on the hyperlinks to our website, which device you used and your IP address. We use web beacons in our marketing emails that you subscribe to receive. Web beacons helps us to understand how you interact with our emails and are used to improve our future email communications.

Your permission

When you visit our website for the first time we clearly tell you through our Cookies banner the purposes we use Cookies and Similar Technologies for and we ask for your Consent to use Cookies that are not ‘Strictly Necessary’ for the reasons described above. At this point you can choose to either:

‘Accept All’ or ‘Reject All’ Cookies
Click on ‘Manage Cookies’ and Opt-In or Opt Out of Cookies which you want to allow and the Cookies you don’t want to allow and click on ‘Confirm My Choices’ to save your preference
Disable Cookies on your device or browser by going into you browser or device ‘Settings’; or
Decide not to use our website

However, if you Opt-Out of or disable some cookies, it may affect you browsing experience on our website or you may not be able to take advantage of certain site features, services, applications, or tools because to make them work they need the cookie or technology.

You are in control

You can Opt-In and Opt-Out of Cookies or manage your preferences at any time by clicking on ‘Manage Cookies’ at the bottom of any of our webpages. You are also always free to block, delete, or disable cookies or technologies from your browser, installed application, or device settings. (Please note this function is not available for EU visitors).
For more information on how you can see what cookies have been set, block, delete, or disable them, please review your browser or device settings or visit www.aboutcookies.org. You may also opt out of receiving cookies by visiting Network Advertising and Pandora or by going to ‘Settings’ on your browser-

Web server logs

We collect web server logs relating to our website. These identify the IP addresses of visitors to our site, but not necessarily specific computers or users. They also record the time of day, the pages requested from the site and any website links followed to our site (referrer information).

We use this information to give statistics on the number of visitors to the site, the most popular pages and other similar information. We are not able to tie any of this information to specific individuals.

Cookies we use

To find out what cookies we use, or to manage your cookie preferences, please click the 'Manage Cookies' link located in the footer below.

We will update this Cookie Policy in accordance with applicable laws from time to time so please check regularly because when you use our site the cookie policy as updated will apply.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.