Privacy Policy

Who we are

The Little Sparta Trust is a registered Scottish charity (Scottish Charity No. SC023222) established to care for, conserve and develop Little Sparta, the garden created by poet and artist Ian Hamilton Finlay and Sue Finlay. Our purpose is to protect Little Sparta for future generations while enabling people to experience, enjoy and learn from this unique work of art.

Introduction

The Little Sparta Trust is the data controller responsible for the personal information we collect. The Trust is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly, lawfully and transparently. Whether you are visiting Little Sparta, attending an event, making a donation, volunteering, applying for a role or simply getting in touch, we want you to understand what information we collect, why we collect it and how we use it.

What information do we collect?

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

  • your name and contact details
  • your postcode or country of residence
  • booking and ticketing information
  • donation and Gift Aid information
  • details of purchases made through Little Sparta
  • correspondence and enquiries
  • visitor survey responses
  • volunteer, Trustee or job application information

How do we use your information?

We use personal information to:

  • manage bookings, events and visits
  • process donations and purchases
  • administer volunteering and recruitment
  • respond to enquiries and requests
  • send newsletters and information about Little Sparta where you have asked us to do so
  • manage our relationships with supporters and donors
  • improve our services through visitor feedback and evaluation
  • meet our legal, regulatory and charitable obligations

We only collect information that is relevant to these purposes.

Our lawful basis for processing

We process personal information where:

  • you have given us your consent
  • it is necessary to fulfil a contract with you, such as processing a booking or donation
  • it is necessary for us to comply with a legal obligation

Marketing and communications

If you ask to hear from us, we may send you information about visiting Little Sparta, events, exhibitions, talks, fundraising activities and other news. You can unsubscribe or change your communication preferences at any time by contacting us or by using the unsubscribe link included in our email newsletters.

Who do we share information with?

We only share personal information where necessary. This may include organisations that help us operate our services, such as providers of ticketing, payment processing, email communications, website hosting and IT support. These organisations process information on our behalf and are required to keep it secure. We never sell your personal information.

Cookies and our website

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to help it function effectively and to understand how visitors use the site. Where analytics are used, the information collected is aggregated and used to help improve our website and visitor experience. You can control or disable cookies through your web browser settings.

How long do we keep your information?

We only keep personal information for as long as it is needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or to meet legal, accounting or regulatory requirements.

Keeping your information secure

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access or disclosure. Access to personal information is restricted to those who need it in order to carry out their work for the Trust.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

  • request access to the personal information we hold about you
  • ask us to correct inaccurate information
  • request that we erase your personal information where appropriate
  • object to certain types of processing
  • ask us to restrict how we use your information
  • request a copy of information you have provided to us in a portable format
  • withdraw your consent where processing is based on consent

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or the information we hold about you, please contact:

The Little Sparta Trust

Email: contact@littlesparta.org.uk

Little Sparta
Stonypath
Dunsyre
South Lanarkshire
ML11 8NG

Last reviewed: August 2026