Privacy Policy.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Mark Hardy Design.
This website (www.markhardydesign.com) is operated by Hardy Projects Ltd, trading as Mark Hardy Design, an independent garden and landscape design practice based in Whitstable, Kent.
I respect your privacy and am committed to protecting any personal information you share with me.
This policy explains what information I collect, why I collect it, how it is used and your rights under UK data protection law.
What information I collect
When you contact me, make an enquiry or book a garden design consultation through my website, I may collect:
Your name
Your email address
Your telephone number
Your property address or project location
Details you choose to share about your garden or proposed project
Information relating to your consultation booking and payments
My website may also collect technical information, including your IP address, browser type, device information and how you interact with the site.
Why I collect your information
I use this information to:
Respond to enquiries and communicate with you
Arrange and manage garden design consultations
Prepare proposals and provide garden design services
Manage existing client relationships
Process bookings, payments and related administration
Understand how visitors use my website and make improvements
I will never sell your personal information to third parties.
Legal basis for processing your information
Under UK GDPR, I process personal information where there is a lawful basis to do so.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
Contract: To arrange consultations, prepare proposals or deliver services you have requested.
Legitimate interests: To respond to enquiries and manage my business and client relationships, where these interests do not override your rights.
Legal obligations: To maintain financial records and comply with applicable laws.
Consent: Where required, including for non-essential website analytics cookies or optional marketing communications.
Where your information is stored and processed
I use a small number of trusted third-party services to operate my website and manage enquiries, bookings and payments.
Squarespace
My website is hosted by Squarespace, which provides website hosting and associated services.
Acuity Scheduling
I use Acuity Scheduling, a Squarespace service, to manage garden design consultation bookings. When you make a booking, the information you provide is processed through Acuity to manage your appointment and related communications.
Stripe
I use Stripe to process online payments securely. Payment card information is handled by Stripe, and I do not store your full card details.
Website Analytics
I use both Squarespace Analytics and Google Analytics to understand how visitors use my website, including which pages are viewed, how visitors arrive at the site and how they navigate between pages.
These services may collect information through cookies and similar technologies, including device information, online identifiers and website usage data.
I use this information to understand the performance of my website and identify opportunities to improve it.
These service providers may process information outside the UK. Where personal data is transferred internationally, appropriate safeguards are required under UK data protection law.
Cookies and website analytics
My website uses cookies and similar technologies to support its operation and help me understand how it is used.
Essential cookies allow the website and booking services to function correctly.
Analytics cookies, including those used by Squarespace Analytics and Google Analytics, help me understand visitor numbers, traffic sources and website performance.
Where consent is required, non-essential cookies will only be used with your permission.
You can manage your cookie preferences through the website's cookie controls and your browser settings.
For further information about how these services handle data, please see:
How long I keep your information
I only retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
Enquiry information is retained while I am responding to your request and for an appropriate period afterwards. Client and financial records may be retained for longer where necessary to meet legal, accounting or contractual obligations.
When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
Request access to the personal information I hold about you
Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected
Request the deletion of your information in certain circumstances
Object to certain uses of your personal information
Request restrictions on how your information is processed
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
Request the transfer of your information where applicable
Make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details below.
Third-party websites
My website may contain links to external websites, including social media platforms and other businesses.
I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites and recommend reviewing their individual privacy policies.
Changes to this policy
I may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes to my website, services or legal requirements.
The latest version will always be available on this page.
Contact
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your information is handled, please contact:
Mark Hardy Design
Hardy Projects Ltd, trading as Mark Hardy Design
Email: studio@markhardydesign.com
Telephone: 07956 108 213
Website: www.markhardydesign.com
If you have concerns about how your personal information is handled, you can also contact the Information Commissioner's Office at www.ico.org.uk.