Privacy Policy

Bluebean Publishing Ltd (trading as Dorset Life)

Last updated: July 2026

Introduction

Bluebean Publishing Ltd (“we”, “our” or “us”), trading as Dorset Life, is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

By using our website or interacting with Dorset Life, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Who We Are

Bluebean Publishing Ltd is the publisher of Dorset Life.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, Bluebean Publishing Ltd is the Data Controller responsible for the personal information collected through this website and our associated services.

Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with Dorset Life, we may collect the following information.

Information you provide directly

This may include:

  • Your name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Postal address (where applicable)
  • Business details
  • Advertising enquiries
  • Event submissions
  • Story suggestions
  • Competition entries
  • Reader correspondence
  • Information submitted through contact forms

You choose whether to provide this information.

Newsletter Subscriptions

If you subscribe to Dorset Life, we collect your email address so that we can send you:

  • our free monthly digital magazine;
  • occasional newsletters;
  • important updates relating to Dorset Life.

We use Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) to manage our email newsletters and subscriber lists.

When you subscribe, your information is securely processed and stored by Brevo on our behalf in accordance with their privacy and security standards.

You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the Unsubscribe link included in every email or by contacting us directly.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device type
  • Operating system
  • Pages viewed
  • Time spent on pages
  • Referring website
  • Approximate geographic location based on IP address
  • Date and time of your visit

This information helps us understand how visitors use Dorset Life and enables us to improve the website.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to help us understand how visitors use our website.

Google Analytics collects anonymous information about website usage, including:

  • pages viewed;
  • time spent on the website;
  • navigation between pages;
  • general geographic region;
  • device and browser information.

This information is aggregated and does not normally identify individual users.

Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this information. You can learn more about Google’s use of data by visiting:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

You can also opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google’s browser add-on:

https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Cookies

Dorset Life uses cookies and similar technologies to:

  • remember your preferences;
  • improve website functionality;
  • understand visitor behaviour;
  • measure readership;
  • analyse website performance.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Further information is available in our Cookie Policy.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

  • deliver the services you request;
  • send newsletters where you have subscribed;
  • respond to enquiries;
  • administer competitions;
  • publish reader submissions where appropriate;
  • manage advertising enquiries;
  • improve our website and services;
  • maintain website security;
  • comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information.

Reader Correspondence

If you contact Dorset Life by email, letter or through our website, we will use your contact details only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry or administering any ongoing correspondence, unless you have separately consented to receive our newsletter or other communications. If you submit a letter, opinion piece or other material for publication, we may contact you to verify your identity or discuss your submission before publication.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information under one or more of the following lawful bases:

  • your consent;
  • performance of a contract;
  • our legitimate interests in operating Dorset Life;
  • compliance with legal obligations.

Sharing Information

We only share personal information where necessary.

This may include trusted service providers who assist us with:

  • website hosting;
  • email newsletter distribution (Brevo);
  • website analytics (Google Analytics);
  • cloud storage and business systems;
  • payment processing, where applicable.

These organisations process information only on our behalf or as independent data controllers where appropriate.

We may also disclose information where required by law or to protect our legal rights.

International Transfers

Some of the third-party services we use may process personal information outside the United Kingdom.

Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR.

Data Retention

We keep personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to comply with legal, regulatory and accounting requirements.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised where appropriate.

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • access your personal information;
  • request correction of inaccurate information;
  • request deletion where appropriate;
  • restrict processing;
  • object to certain processing;
  • request data portability where applicable;
  • withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse or disclosure.

These measures include secure cloud-based systems, password protection, multi-factor authentication where available, software updates and access controls.

Although no internet-based system can ever be completely secure, we continually review our practices to minimise risk.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the content, security or privacy practices of those websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Children’s Privacy

Our website is intended for a general audience.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without appropriate parental consent.

Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

The latest version will always be published on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:

Bluebean Publishing Ltd
Trading as Dorset Life

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.dorsetlife.co.uk

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can try to resolve the matter.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

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

Website: https://ico.org.uk/

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Bluebean Publishing Ltd
Trading as Dorset Life

Policy owner: Directors

Version: 1.0

Last reviewed: July 2026

Next review: July 2027