We think it’s important for you to understand how cookies and other similar technologies are used by us and our partners. These technologies help this website function, allow us to understand how you use the website and services, and have a number of purposes that you can read about in this policy.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small data files sent from a server to your web browser. They are stored in your browser’s cache and allow a website or a third party to recognise your browser. When you return to our website they recognise these cookies and therefore your computer or mobile device. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.
Different Types of Cookie
There are three primary types of cookies:
- Session cookies are specific to a particular visit and carry information as you view different pages so you don’t have to re-enter information every time you change pages. Session cookies expire and delete themselves automatically in a short period of time like after you leave the Site or when you close your web browser.
- Persistent cookies remember certain information about your preferences for viewing the site, and allow us to recognise you each time you return. Persistent cookies are stored on your browser cache or mobile device until you choose to delete them, and otherwise typically delete themselves at expiration.
- Third-party cookies are placed by someone other than us, and may gather browsing activity across multiple websites and across multiple sessions. They are usually a type of persistent cookie and are stored until you delete them or they expire based on the time period set in each third-party cookie.
Summary of Cookie Usage
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like:
- basic site functions
- secure account login
- remembering account, browser preferences
- analysing site traffic and usage
Cookies store data about your use, but they are helpful because they allow us to help this website function and customise your experience. You can configure your desktop or mobile browser’s settings to reflect your preference to accept or reject cookies, including how to handle third-party cookies. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing.
Purposes
Content Management System
- If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
- If you have an account and you log in to this site, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
- When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.
- If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.
Comment Anti-spam – We use cookies to protect against receiving spam. Our spam protection use First-party cookies that are for security and technical functionality, essential to site functionality, non-intrusive and temporary: The cookies set by are completely anonymous. They do not store any personal data or personally identifiable information (PII) about website users, and are not used for advertising, marketing, or anything remotely related to these. They are used for security only.
Google Analytics – These cookies are set for monitoring and tracking visitors behaviour on the site. The information collected can include, but is not limited to, your IP address, referral URLs, the type of device you use, your operating system, the type of browser you use, geographic location, and other session data.
Caching cookies – These are used by W3 Total Cache plugin to monitor referrer and user identification for caching purposes. Caching is used to improve site performance.
Social Media Sharing – Part of the ShareThis sharing button functionality. Unique identifiers given to each computer to allow traffic analysis to ShareThis.com. ShareThis includes a link in their pop-up box which allows users to specify “Do not track” which deletes cookies as required. Expires: 1 year and same day respectively.
Fonts – some fonts used on the website are licensed, with a maximum number of pageviews per month. A cookie is set to allow the font provider to count the number of page views, for this purpose. Font provider privacy policy.
The Cookie Bar
If you click ‘Accept & Close’ on the Cookie Bar, at the bottom of the page, it will be hidden. A persistent cookie is set to do this and it is set for 365 days. It is used to remember whether the visitor has “accepted” the cookie policy. If you want to remove your cookie consent and delete this cookie just click the link below. This will allow you to see the cookie bar again. Note: The link does not delete all cookies. Click here to Delete the Cookie Bar's Cookie
How do I change my cookie settings?
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:
To find information relating to other browsers, visit the browser developer’s website.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
You may opt to deactivate your cookies, but it is important to note that you may not be able to access or use some features of our site.
ICO Guidelines
The Information Commisioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
Read more about cookies on the ICO website
Further Development of Cookie Handling
- We are planning to enhance our cookie tool to allow users to more easily change their cookie settings after their initial choice.
- We are planning to add a table detailing the technical information of each individual cookie used by the site.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of Cookies and Similar technologies, please contact using the contact details provided in the ‘How To Contact Us’ section of our Privacy Policy.