1. Purpose of this Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how Balanced Harvest uses cookies, local storage and similar technologies on Balancedliving.co.uk. It should be read with our Privacy Policy. We use these technologies to operate the website, remember privacy choices, support security and, where permission is given, understand how educational content is used. Balanced Harvest is based at 32 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LE, United Kingdom.
2. What cookies and similar technologies are
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores through your browser. It can contain an identifier, preference or limited technical value. Session cookies expire when a browser session ends, while persistent cookies remain until their expiry date or deletion. Local storage is a browser feature that can save a preference directly on a device. Similar technologies may include pixels, scripts or server-side event records.
These technologies do not all serve the same purpose. Some are necessary for a feature requested by the user, while others are optional and support measurement or personalisation. We aim to use a proportionate set of technologies rather than loading unnecessary advertising or tracking tools.
3. Functional and strictly necessary technologies
Functional storage supports services such as remembering your cookie preference, maintaining form security, preserving basic Interface choices and protecting the website from abuse. Because these functions are required to provide the service or a feature you request, they may operate without optional consent where permitted by law.
The website stores a value named Balanced_cookie_level in local storage after you choose Accept All, Partial or Functional. This prevents the banner from being displayed on every visit and allows the website to respect your selected level. Session technology may also be used to create a security token for forms so that a submission can be checked against cross-site request forgery.
4. Analytics technologies
Analytics technologies can show aggregate patterns such as popular pages, approximate visit duration, device categories and navigation paths. We use such information to improve structure, accessibility, performance and topic selection. Optional analytics should operate only when the applicable preference and legal requirements allow it.
Analytics data should not be Interpreted as individual medical or nutrition information. We do not use page visits to diagnose visitors, infer a health condition, determine insurance eligibility or make automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects.
5. Preference categories offered by the banner
- Accept All: permits functional storage and any configured optional analytics or preference technologies.
- Partial: permits functional storage and limited privacy-conscious measurement where available, while excluding broader optional use.
- Functional: limits use to technologies needed for security, forms, Interface operation and remembering your selected preference.
The exact technologies active on a particular visit can depend on the site configuration, browser capability and third-party services in use. Selecting a category does not create an obligation for us to deploy every possible technology within that category.
6. Current technology register
The website is designed around a small technology set. The preference value Balanced_cookie_level is stored in local storage without a fixed server expiry and remains until deleted through browser controls or replaced by a new choice. A PHP session cookie may be used to maintain a short-lived server session and form security token. Its duration is generally limited to the browser session or server session configuration.
Our hosting provider may create essential logs containing IP address, request time, requested file, response status and browser information. These logs support availability, troubleshooting and security. They are not placed through the browser cookie Interface but are described here because they form part of the website’s technical operation.
7. Third-party services
The website may load infrastructure from providers that supply fonts or front-end libraries. For example, Google Fonts resources and the Tailwind CSS content delivery service may receive standard request information such as IP address, browser details and referring page when resources are loaded. Their handling of that information is governed by their own terms and privacy notices.
We review third-party integrations and aim to keep them limited to services required for presentation or operation. A link to another website does not automatically place that website’s cookies, but visiting the external destination may allow it to set technologies under its own policy.
8. Browser and device controls
Most browsers allow you to inspect, block or delete cookies and local storage. Controls may be found under privacy, security, site data or history settings. You can usually block all cookies, block third-party cookies, clear data for a single website or automatically delete data when the browser closes. Private browsing modes may also limit persistence.
Blocking all storage can affect the site. The preference banner may reappear, form security may fail and some Interactive elements may not remember their state. Browser controls operate independently of the Balanced Harvest banner, so deleting storage can also delete the record of your choice.
9. Changing or withdrawing a choice
You can change your preference by clearing Balanced Harvest site data in the browser and revisiting the website, at which point the banner will appear again. You may also contact us for assistance. Withdrawing optional consent does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal, and essential security records may still be retained where a separate lawful basis applies.
10. Retention
Storage duration varies by purpose. Session cookies normally end with the session or expire according to server settings. Local preferences remain until changed or deleted. Optional analytics information, if used, is retained only for a period proportionate to trend analysis and service improvement. Security logs are retained according to operational need and may be kept longer where an incident investigation, legal claim or regulatory obligation requires it.
11. Do Not Track and global privacy controls
Browser signals such as Do Not Track are not implemented consistently across the web. We monitor relevant standards and may recognise supported preference signals where technically and legally appropriate. Your explicit selection through our banner remains the primary mechanism for website cookie preferences unless a mandatory browser-level signal applies.
12. Updates to the technology register
We may add, remove or change technologies as the website develops. We will update this policy when changes materially affect the categories, purposes or providers described. Where consent is required for a new use, we will request it before activating that use for the relevant visitor.
13. Relationship with data protection rights
Information linked to a device identifier or IP address may be personal data under UK law. Rights described in our Privacy Policy can therefore apply. Some cookie data may be difficult to connect to a named person without additional information, but we will respond reasonably to requests and explain any technical limitation.
14. Contact us
Questions about cookies or privacy choices may be sent to [email protected], by telephone on +44 131 225 8134, or by post to Balanced Harvest, 32 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LE, United Kingdom. Our office is open Monday to Friday 09:00–17:30 and Saturday 10:00–14:00.