How We Use Cookies
In order to provide the best possible experience for our users, and to help us identify the parts of our website that perform the best, we make use of cookies. By using our website you accept the use of these cookies.
However, if you’d prefer you can change your browser settings in order to block cookies on this website, or on every website that you visit. Note however that this is likely to result in a worse browsing experience.
What are cookies?
Cookies are tiny text files that are stored on the device you browse the internet with (such as a computer or smartphone). As they’re simply text files they’re harmless.
When you first visit a site, a cookie will usually be downloaded onto your computer, then the next time you visit, your computer informs the site that you already have its cookie. This allows sites to know if you’re a new or repeat visitor, and sometimes to tailor the content.
That means both you and the website owner have access to the data in a cookie, but this is typically just the site name and a unique user ID, so it shouldn’t present privacy issues. Some cookies collect more data than that, but it’s usually basic things like keeping a log of what’s in your shopping cart (so it doesn’t reset when you click on to another page) or of how long you’ve spent on a page.
What cookies do we set and use?
Below you’ll find a list of all the cookies we currently use, along with details of them, including what they do, how long they last, and examples of the information stored.
- Cookie Name - PHPSESSID
Whenever you visit the website we start a ‘session’ and assign your device a unique ID. This allows us to track essential data for your session, all of which is stored on our server. Only the session ID is stored in a temporary cookie, and this is automatically deleted when you close your browser, or after an extended period of inactivity.
- Cookie Name - cookie_info_pane
When you first visit the site this cookie is set, and it stops the cookie information pane from sliding down on subsequent visits or while browsing our site. Without this cookie, that information pane would appear on every page of our site that you visit. This cookie will automatically expire after 1 year, or you can manually delete it.
Google Analytics
These cookies are part of Google Analytics, and are used to anonymously monitor how you interact with our website and to improve website performance.
- Cookie Name - __ga
This cookie lets us count and store page views. The data is anonymous, and it helps us to better understand our users' needs so that we can tailor the website to them. This cookie will automatically expire after 2 years, or you can manually delete it.
- Cookie Name - __gat
This is a cookie that allows us to read and filter requests from bots. As with other Google Analytics cookies the data is anonymous, and it helps us to tailor the website to our users’ needs. This cookie automatically expires after 1 minute.
- Cookie Name - __gid
This is a cookie that lets us store and count page views. The anonymous data this provides allows us to better understand our users' needs and to alter the website accordingly. This cookie automatically expires after 1 day.
You can also read Google's safeguarding policy.
We use Facebook for social media integration. You can read more about this on Facebook’s data policy.
We also use Twitter for social media integration, and you can read more about that on the Twitter ads policies page.
Refusing or withdrawing your consent to the use of cookies
You may refuse to accept any cookies by adjusting the settings on your web browser. For an explanation of how to do this, check out your browser’s 'help' section, or visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
Please note that if you adjust your web browser settings to refuse cookies, you may not be able to access or fully use certain parts or functionality of our website.
