Who we are

This survey is part of an independent study commissioned by NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage). The study is being carried out by Andrew Bauer, trading as Contour Consulting, and Dr Andrew Moxey, trading as Pareto Consulting. NatureScot is the data controller for the personal information collected, and Contour Consulting processes it on NatureScot’s behalf.

What information we collect

Your survey answers, including:

• the type of business or organisation you run;

• the catchment and area you are answering about;

• your experience of beavers;

• broad bands of costs, income, time, land area and turnover;

• any comments you choose to add.

• your postcode, if you choose to give it.

• your contact details, only if you agree to be contacted about an interview or ask for a summary of findings:

• your name, business or organisation name, email address and, optionally, telephone number.

Please do not include information about your health, or other sensitive personal information, in the comment boxes.

Why we collect it and our lawful basis

We use your answers to understand the range of experiences of living with beavers, and to select a spread of businesses to invite to interview. We use your contact details only to arrange an interview, to send you information you have asked for, or to send you a summary of the findings.

The lawful basis is that processing is necessary for a task carried out in the public interest (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(e)), namely NatureScot’s functions in relation to the management of beavers and the natural heritage of Scotland.

Taking part is voluntary. Taking part, or choosing not to, will not affect any licence, scheme agreement or other dealings you have with NatureScot.

How we keep it secure

• The survey is hosted on SmartSurvey, a UK-based survey platform, which processes the data on our behalf.

• Separation of contact details: contact details are held separately from survey answers. They are linked only by a respondent code, so that we can invite people to interview.

• Who can see it: only the two researchers have access to identifiable information.

• Location: data is stored and processed within the UK.

How your information is used and shared

• Results will be published by NatureScot in summary form and through anonymised examples.

• Identifying details will be removed or combined before publication, and we will check that no individual, business or holding can be recognised.

• An anonymised dataset will be provided to NatureScot at the end of the study.

• We will not share your personal information with anyone else, or use it for any other purpose.

How long we keep it

• Postcodes will be deleted once they have been used to check the sub-catchment, and no later than 31 January 2027.

• Contact details will deleted once the study is complete and any summary of findings has been sent, and no later than 30 June 2027.

• Anonymised survey answers may be kept by NatureScot as part of the study record.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;

• ask us to correct it;

• ask us to delete it;

• ask us to restrict how it is used;

• object to it being used.

• you can withdraw your contact details at any time by emailing us, but once survey answers have been anonymised and combined, it may not be possible to identify and remove an individual response.

Contact and complaints

The researchers for questions about the study or your information: contact Andrew Bauer at andrew@contourconsulting.uk.

NatureScot’s data protection officer: dpo@nature.scot.

Complaints: if you are unhappy with how your information has been handled, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk, 0303 123 1113).

Date of notice: 26 October 2026