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Guidance

Source to Seal Sands privacy notice

Updated 20 October 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/source-to-seal-sands-privacy-notice

This project builds upon opportunity mapping commissioned by Natural England and Tees Protected Site Strategy to address excess nutrient levels and diffuse pollution. The project will collaborate with farmers and landowners to produce a detailed delivery plan optimising nature-based solutions to improve water quality across the following northern tributaries within the Tees catchment. 

  • Claxton Beck
  • North Burn
  • Cowbridge Beck
  • Greatham Beck

Working with farmers to co-create a range of costed detailed designs and interventions optimising nature-based solutions to create a series of investment ready projects for implementation.  

Optimisation of nature-based solutions across the northern tributaries will:  

  • directly improve water quality  
  • reduce nitrogen levels  
  • reduce sediment run off and erosion  
  • create and enhance invertebrate and water vole (priority species) habitats 
  • improve connectivity and water flow, thus improving flood resilience
  • lower water temperatures 

The northern tributaries flow into the River Tees, with North Burn and Claxton Beck flowing directly into Greatham Creek and Seal Sands and the Teesmouth & Cleveland Coast SSSI and SPA designated site. Improvements in water quality will contribute towards addressing Reasons for Not Achieving Good Status (RNAGS) ands help deliver statutory water body objectives. It will also contribute towards addressing the current SSSI unfavourable/declining condition status at Seal Sands – part of the heavily modified Tees estuary.

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 Data Protection Manager at foi@naturalengland.org.uk or:

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

The Data Protection Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (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

Who collects your personal data

This project will collect the following personal data:

  • name of participant
  • preferred contact details (address, email, phone number)
  • geospatial data – detailed final designs and mapped locations for delivery of constructed wetlands and other nature recovery opportunities (such as buffer strips)
  • costings for capital delivery of final nature-based solutions interventions.

The data is going to be used to create a portfolio of opportunities to deliver nature-based solutions that can be utilised by farmers/landowners, Tees Rivers Trust and Natural England to deliver nature recovery at scale, improve water quality and secure longer-term sustainable investment into diversification of farmland for farmers and landowners.

Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, which is laid down by law, by way of the Environment Act 2021.

The processing of your personal data is based on consent. You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing admin@teesriverstrust.org.

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

Natural England may share the personal data collected under this privacy notice with:

  • Tees Rivers Trust
  • farmers and landowners taking part in the project
  • key stakeholders, to share opportunities to invest in Nature Based solutions; this may include and is not limited to, industry representatives, Northumbrian Water

The information will be shared to increase understanding of the benefits of, and opportunities for, delivering nature based solutions.

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 for 5 years after the end of the project.

What happens if you do not provide the data requested

If you do not provide the data, Natural England will not be able to:

  • email you about the project or invite you to take part in workshops or surveys
  • use your information in the project
  • use your image in the project
  • include or promote your opportunities within the investment brochure

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 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 218).

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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