Cookie Policy
Last updated: April 25, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the website owners.
Cookies allow us to recognise you and remember your preferences, making your browsing experience smoother and more personalised.
2. How We Use Cookies
Walton Toad Patrol uses cookies to:
- Keep you signed in to your account
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Understand how you use our website
- Improve our website and services
- Ensure the security of our website
3. Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Cookies | Required for basic website functionality. These enable core features like user login, session management, and security. | Session / 14 days |
| Functional Cookies | Remember your choices and preferences, such as language settings and map display options. | 1 year |
| Analytics Cookies | Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous information. | 2 years |
4. Specific Cookies We Use
4.1 WordPress Cookies
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
wordpress_logged_in_* |
Indicates when you're logged in and who you are | Session / 14 days |
wordpress_sec_* |
Used to store authentication details | Session / 14 days |
wp-settings-* |
Customises your view of the admin interface | 1 year |
wordpress_test_cookie |
Checks if cookies are enabled in your browser | Session |
4.2 Toad Patrol Cookies
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
toad_patrol_session |
Maintains your patrol session for sighting submissions | 24 hours |
toad_patrol_map_prefs |
Remembers your map view preferences (zoom, position) | 30 days |
toad_patrol_dismiss_notice |
Records when you've dismissed site notices | 7 days |
4.3 Security Cookies
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
wordfence_* |
Security plugin cookies for protection against threats | Varies |
wfwaf-authcookie-* |
Wordfence firewall authentication | 12 hours |
5. Third-Party Cookies
We may use third-party services that set their own cookies:
Google Maps
Our sighting map uses Google Maps, which may set cookies to remember your map preferences and provide the mapping service.
Social Media
If you interact with embedded social media content (Facebook, Instagram, X), those platforms may set cookies. Please refer to their respective cookie policies.
We do not control third-party cookies. Please check the relevant third-party website for more information about their cookies.
6. Managing Cookies
6.1 Browser Settings
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
6.2 Browser-Specific Instructions
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
⚠️ Important: If you disable essential cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly. You may not be able to log in or submit sighting reports.
7. Cookie Consent
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner. You can choose to:
- Accept All: Allow all cookies
- Essential Only: Allow only necessary cookies
- Manage Preferences: Choose which cookie types to allow
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting our site.
8. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
🍪 Quick Summary
- ✅ We use cookies to keep you logged in and remember your preferences
- ✅ Essential cookies are required for the website to function
- ✅ You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings
- ✅ Disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality
- ✅ We don't use cookies for advertising or tracking