Contents
Contact details
SwarmBase and ReportSwarm are currently an unincorporated project operated by Adam Finzel, an individual based in the UK. Adam is the data controller for both services for the purposes of UK GDPR, and can be reached using the details below.
Email: [email protected]
What information we collect, use, and why
We collect or use the following information to provide our services — connecting people who have spotted a honey bee swarm with local beekeepers and associations who can collect and rehome it:
- Account details for beekeepers and association admins (name, email, password, postcode or location pin, optional phone number) — collected on SwarmBase so we can route swarm reports to the right people.
- Swarm reports from the public (photo, location, the reporter's name, email or phone, and any access notes) — submitted via ReportSwarm and shared with the local beekeeper or association we route the report to, so they can contact the reporter and arrange collection.
- Website user information including user journeys and cookie tracking — used on both SwarmBase and ReportSwarm to keep the services working and to understand how they're used.
Lawful bases and data protection rights
Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO's website.
Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights, which are set out in brief below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO's website.
- Right of accessAsk us for copies of your personal information, including details of where we get it from and who we share it with. Some exemptions may apply. Read more.
- Right to rectificationAsk us to correct or delete personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete. Read more.
- Right to erasureAsk us to delete your personal information. Read more.
- Right to restriction of processingAsk us to limit how we use your personal information. Read more.
- Right to object to processingObject to the processing of your personal data. Read more.
- Right to data portabilityAsk that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you. Read more.
- Right to withdraw consentWhere we use consent as our lawful basis, you can withdraw it at any time. Read more.
If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.
To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.
Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data
Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information to provide services and goods, including delivery and third party referrals, are:
- Consent — we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
Where we get personal information from
- Directly from you
How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes set out in this notice, and in line with the retention schedule below.
| Information | How long we keep it |
|---|---|
| Beekeeper and association account details (name, email, password hash, postcode/pin, optional phone) — SwarmBase | Kept while your account is active. Deleted within 30 days of account closure, except where we are required to keep records longer for legal or safety reasons. |
| Swarm reports submitted via ReportSwarm (photo, location, reporter name and contact details, notes) | Kept for the season they relate to plus the following season, then anonymised for aggregate statistics. Reporters can request earlier deletion at any time using the contact email above. |
| Collection records routed to beekeepers and associations | Kept for the season they relate to plus the following season, then anonymised for aggregate statistics. |
| Website usage data (user journeys, cookie tracking) | Up to 24 months from collection. |
| Email and SMS delivery logs (via Postmark and Twilio) | Up to 12 months, then deleted by the provider in line with their retention policy. |
| Backups | Encrypted backups are kept for up to 30 days before being overwritten. |
If you'd like a copy of your data deleted sooner, contact us using the email at the top of this notice.
How to complain
If you have any concerns about our use of your personal data, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.
If you remain unhappy with how we've used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO.
The ICO's address
Information Commissioner's OfficeWycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Website: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
For general questions, you can also reach us via the contact form.