Guidance

Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment survey equipment testing privacy notice

Updated 17 December 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/natural-capital-and-ecosystem-assessment-survey-equipment-testing-privacy-notice

The England Ecosystem Survey is a part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA), an England-wide programme involving several Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group organisations. Its purpose is to assess and describe the extent and condition of England’s biodiversity, ecosystems and natural capital assets.

We use various geospatial software apps and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for the England Ecosystem Survey. Each year, the Field Survey Design Team runs tests on the iPads, GPS devices and software we’ll use, to make sure everything is ready for the next survey season.

Who collects your personal data 

The data controller is Natural England at:

Foss House, Kings Pool 
1-2 Peasholme Green
York
Y01 7PX

Send questions about how Natural England uses your personal data and your associated rights to the Natural England Data Protection Manager at foi@naturalengland.org.uk or:

Natural England
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester 
WR5 2NP 

The Data Protection Officer for Defra group is responsible for checking that Natural England complies with legislation. You can contact them at DefraGroupDataProtectionOfficer@defra.gov.uk or:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
SW Quarter
2nd floor
Seacole Block
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

What personal data is collected and how it is used

Natural England may collect your:

  • name
  • contact details
  • relationship to the land being accessed – for example, whether you’re an owner or tenant, their representative, or an employee of an organisation that manages the land

Natural England uses this data to contact you about accessing the land for testing England ecosystem survey equipment.

Processing your data is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest. The task is to test the functionality of equipment which will later be used during NCEA survey activity on different land. NCEA data is used to assess and describe the extent and condition of England’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural capital assets.

The processing of your personal data is based on consent. You can normally withdraw consent at any time by emailing ees@naturalengland.org.uk

You also have the right to ask Natural England to amend or delete your personal data at any time by emailing ees@naturalengland.org.uk

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

Natural England will not share the personal data collected under this privacy notice with other organisations.

Natural England respects your personal privacy when responding to access to information requests. We only share information when necessary to meet the statutory requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

How long Natural England holds personal data

Natural England will keep your personal data until the end of March 2028 when the current England Ecosystem Survey project cycle ends and when we will no longer need to test equipment.

What happens if you do not provide the data requested

If you do not provide your personal data:

  • Natural England will not be able to carry out survey equipment testing during this testing cycle on your land or the land you represent
  • Natural England may however contact you again in the future regarding permission to access this land if your contact details, or those of the organisation you represent, are in the public domain

Use of automated decision-making or profiling

The information you provide is not used for:

  • automated decision making (making a decision by automated means without any human involvement)
  • profiling (automated processing of personal data to evaluate certain things about an individual)

Transfer of data outside the UK

Natural England will only transfer your data to another country that is deemed adequate for data protection purposes.

Your rights

Find out about your individual rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018).

Complaints

You have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at any time.

Natural England’s personal information charter

Natural England’s personal information charter explains more about your rights over your personal data.

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