Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

Cookies allow websites to remember your preferences, login status, and other information to enhance your browsing experience. They can be set by the website you're visiting (first-party cookies) or by third parties (third-party cookies).

2. How We Use Cookies

Shimmering Meadow uses cookies to:

• Ensure our website functions properly
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Improve website performance and user experience
• Analyse website traffic and usage patterns
• Provide personalised content and marketing
• Remember your cookie consent preferences

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, access to secure areas, and form submissions. Without these cookies, our website cannot work properly.

3.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often and error messages. This helps us improve our website's performance.

3.3 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced features and personalisation.

3.4 Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement.

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services:

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect anonymous information including the number of visitors, where visitors have come from, and the pages they visited.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by visiting: Google Analytics Opt-out

4.2 Social Media Platforms

Our website includes social media sharing buttons for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. These may set cookies when you interact with them.

4.3 YouTube

We may embed YouTube videos on our website, which may set cookies to track viewing statistics and preferences.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Accept only necessary cookies
• Customise your cookie preferences

5.2 Cookie Settings

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:

• Using our cookie settings panel (accessible from the website footer)
• Adjusting your browser settings (see section 5.3)
• Contacting us directly

5.3 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View which cookies are stored on your device
• Delete existing cookies
• Block cookies from specific websites
• Block all cookies (note: this may affect website functionality)

Browser-Specific Instructions:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings > Site Permissions > Cookies and Site Data

6. Cookie Duration

Cookies may be stored for different periods:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted
• Necessary cookies: Typically session-based or short-term
• Analytics cookies: Usually stored for 1-2 years
• Marketing cookies: Generally stored for 30-90 days

7. Legal Basis for Cookie Processing

Under UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), we process cookies based on:

• Legitimate Interest: For strictly necessary cookies essential for website functionality
• Consent: For all other cookies, including analytics and marketing cookies

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time through our cookie settings or by contacting us.

8. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling cookies may affect your experience on our website:

• Necessary cookies: Website may not function properly
• Functional cookies: Loss of personalised features and preferences
• Analytics cookies: We cannot improve our website based on usage data
• Marketing cookies: Less relevant content and advertisements

9. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• The cookies we use
• Legal requirements
• Our website functionality
• Third-party services we integrate

We will notify you of any significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, by displaying a notice on our website.

10. More Information

For more information about cookies and online privacy, you can visit:

• ICO Guide to Cookies
• All About Cookies
• Your Online Choices

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us: