Guidance

Enquiry privacy notice

Published 26 June 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forestry-commission-enquiry-privacy-notice/enquiry-privacy-notice

The Forestry Commission is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This privacy notice covers the following enquiry forms:

The notice describes how we collect and use  personal information about you in accordance with data protection law, which includes the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018.

The Forestry Commission is registered as a data controller under the Data Protection Act (Registration No. Z6542658).

1. Purpose

The collection of personal data enables the Forestry Commission to understand, address and respond to customer enquiries, submissions and requests. 

1.1 Lawful basis

We will process your data under Legitimate Interest.

2. Your data

2.1 What personal data we process

Personal data is data which identifies an individual directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier such as a name. The information we collect and process includes:

  • personal contact details such as name, telephone number and email address
  • address and mapping data

2.2 Where your personal data is stored

We are committed to doing all we can to keep your data secure while we process it. Your data will be stored in UK or EU.

2.3 How long we keep your personal data

We will only retain your personal data for as long as it is needed for the purposes set out in this document or for as long as law requires us to. We will:

  • keep your email data until you unsubscribe
  • keep your enquiry data for 2 years

2.4 When we share your data

We share your data with government partners including but not limited to Defra, Rural Payments Agency, Natural England and the Environment Agency. We may also share or disclose your personal data to third parties, including agents acting on your behalf, in the following circumstances:

  • where we are required to by law
  • to fulfil a public task
  • you authorise us to do so
  • it is necessary for the performance or functions as a government department

3. Your rights

More information on how we treat personal data, including information on your rights is available in the Forestry Commission’s Personal Information Charter.

4. Get in touch

If you have questions about the data we hold or concerns, please contact the Forestry Commission’s Data Protection Officer: dataprotection@forestrycommission.gov.uk

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) prefers complaints to be directed to the organisation and its DPO in the first instance. If you are unhappy with the outcome following contact with Forestry Commission’s DPO, you can email casework@ico.org.uk or write to:

Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF

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