What are cookies?
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of the website, which helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website, and also allows us to improve our site. To find out more about cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org. Below is more about the individual cookies we use and how to recognise them.
Cookies we use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are placed on your browser to ensure the website delivers you information and services securely and optimally. You must accept these essential cookies to be able to make use of our online systems.
Cookie notice plugin cookie (cookie_notice_accepted): Records if the visitor has accepted the cookie consent box.
Cookie test (wordpress_test_cookie): Used by WordPress to check if the user’s browser supports cookies.
Comment details cookies (comment_author_[hash], comment_author_email_[hash], comment_author_url_[hash]): Only set if you leave a comment and select “Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” Set by our website to track your name, email and URL. More information: wordpress.org
Google preferences cookie (NID): Set by Google because we use a plugin like an embedded Google Map or embedded YouTube video. Contains a unique ID Google uses to remember your preferences and other information, such as your preferred language (e.g. English) and whether or not you wish to have Google’s SafeSearch filter turned on.
These cookies are only set if you log in to our website:
- WordPress cookies (wp-settings-[user_id], wordpress_sec_[hash], wordpress_logged_in_[hash]): Allows you to authenticate and perform account related functions. No information is passed to a third-party, and passwords are encrypted. More information: wordpress.org
- Wordfence cookies (wfwaf-authcookie-[hash], wf_loginalerted_[hash]): Essential for keeping the site secure. Authenticates your login request and notifies the website admin when an administrator logs in from a new device or location. No information is passed to a third-party. More information: wordfence.com
Statistical Cookies
These cookies help us (the website owner) to understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use the information to compile reports to help us improve the website.
Google Analytics tracking cookies (_ga, _gid, _gat_[AnalyticsID]): Set by Universal Analytics (Google) to collect information about how you use our website. Collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the website, where visitors have come from to the website and the pages they visited. We use the information to compile reports to help us improve the website. Read Google’s overview of privacy and safeguarding data
Marketing Cookies
These cookies are used to track visitors across websites. They are used to display ads that are relevant and engaging to you.
Google account tracking cookies (APISID, ANID, SAPISID, HSID, SID, SIDCC, SSID, SEARCH_SAMESITE and CONSENT): Set by Google while visiting our site as we use plugins like an embedded Google Map or YouTube video. They are used to help customise adverts on Google properties, such as Google Search. Only set if you are logged into your Google account, so log out to stop them being set. You will have agreed to this arrangement as part of signing up for a Google account.
Google advertising cookies (ANID, 1P_JAR, OGPC, OTZ): Set by Google because we use a plugin like an embedded Google Map. They use these cookies to make advertising more engaging to users and more valuable to publishers and advertisers. More information: policies.google.com
How to change your cookie settings
Existing cookies
To clear cookies that have previously been placed on your browser, in your browser select the option to clear your browsing history and ensure that the option to delete or clear cookies is included when you do so.
Google Analytics cookies
You can revoke Google Analytics cookies on our website by clicking this button then clicking “Deny cookies” in the pop-up. Change cookie settings
To opt-out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Google account cookies
Google account tracking cookies are only set if you are logged into your Google account, so log out of your account to stop them from being set.
All cookies
You may block all cookies by changing your browser settings, but if you do you may not be able to use every feature on this site. Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:
To find information relating to other browsers, visit the browser developer’s website.