In these Terms & Conditions:

• “Spade & Soil”, “we” or “Rebecca” refers to Rebecca Williams, sole trader, trading as Spade & Soil.
• “Client” or “you” refers to the person or household who has requested gardening services.
• “Services” refers to any gardening work agreed, including maintenance, planting, weeding, pruning, mulching and holiday care.
• “Booking” means a confirmed appointment or agreed schedule of visits.
• “Quote” means a written or verbal estimate provided prior to work commencing.

By booking or confirming any services with Spade & Soil — whether by WhatsApp, email, telephone or in person — you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. These terms apply to all bookings, one-off visits and ongoing arrangements.

Bookings can be made by WhatsApp (07453 382872) or email (Rebecca@spadeandsoil.co.uk). A booking is confirmed only when Rebecca has acknowledged and agreed the date, time and scope of work in writing.

A free 30-minute initial consultation is offered. This visit is to assess the garden and discuss requirements. It does not constitute commencement of any paid service.

Clients are responsible for providing accurate information about the garden, including access arrangements, known hazards, underground utilities, tree preservation orders or other restrictions. Spade & Soil accepts no liability for issues arising from undisclosed information.

Services are charged at £30 per hour unless otherwise agreed in writing. Design consultancy is charged at £85 per hour.

Any quote is an estimate based on information available at the time. Final charges may vary if the scope changes or unforeseen issues arise. Rebecca will communicate changes before proceeding where reasonably possible.

A minimum charge of 1 hour applies to all visits unless otherwise agreed in advance.

No additional travel charge applies within the Maldon and surrounding area. A mileage supplement may apply for locations outside this area and will be agreed in advance.

Spade & Soil reserves the right to review pricing with reasonable notice. Existing clients will receive at least 28 days’ written notice of any rate change.

Payment is accepted by bank transfer or cash. Payment details will be provided on the invoice.

Payment on the day is preferred. Where this is not possible, payment must be made within 3 days of the visit by bank transfer. For regular ongoing arrangements, payment terms will be agreed at the outset and confirmed in writing.

If payment is not received within 14 days of the due date, Spade & Soil reserves the right to suspend further services until the outstanding balance is settled. Repeated late payment may result in termination of the ongoing arrangement.

If a Client disputes an invoice, they should notify Spade & Soil in writing within 7 days of receipt. Undisputed amounts remain payable by the due date.

A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice may be charged at 50% of the estimated visit cost. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, or where Rebecca arrives and cannot access the garden, may be charged in full.

Spade & Soil may cancel or reschedule due to illness, severe weather or other circumstances outside our reasonable control. We will give as much notice as possible and no charge will be made for visits cancelled by Spade & Soil.

Where weather conditions make it unsafe or impractical to work, Rebecca may reschedule at her reasonable discretion in the interests of safety and quality of work.

The Client must ensure safe and reasonable access on the agreed date and time — including unlocked gates, secured animals and any relevant key codes provided in advance. If access is not possible on arrival without prior notice, this may be treated as a cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice.

The scope of each visit will be agreed between Rebecca and the Client. Significant changes, including requests for additional work on the day, will be discussed before proceeding and may result in additional charges or a follow-up visit. Spade & Soil will not undertake work outside the agreed scope without the Client’s explicit agreement.

Where Spade & Soil sources plants or materials on the Client’s behalf, costs are passed on at purchase price. Rebecca will confirm anticipated costs and obtain approval before purchasing.

While every care is taken in planting, Spade & Soil cannot guarantee the survival of plants once the visit is complete. Factors such as weather, soil, watering and pests are outside our control.

Spade & Soil will take care when working near existing plants. Rebecca will notify the Client if she believes any significant accidental damage has occurred during a visit.

Unless otherwise agreed, garden waste will be left in the Client’s brown bin, green bin or compost area. Removal of waste from the property is not included as standard and must be agreed separately. An additional charge may apply.

Spade & Soil holds public liability insurance. Details are available on request.

Spade & Soil’s liability is limited to the value of the services provided in the relevant visit or booking. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses.

Damage caused directly by negligence should be reported in writing within 48 hours of the visit. Claims cannot be accepted for damage reported more than 14 days after a visit.

The Client is responsible for identifying and marking any underground services or utilities prior to any digging work. Spade & Soil accepts no liability for damage to undisclosed underground services.

Spade & Soil accepts no liability for damage to neighbouring properties arising from conditions on the Client’s property not disclosed prior to work commencing.

Clients should ensure the garden is free from obvious hazards and notify Rebecca of any specific risks (e.g. unstable structures, bee or wasp nests, aggressive animals) before work begins. Spade & Soil reserves the right to stop work and leave the property if conditions are deemed unsafe, without charge.

Where a regular maintenance schedule is agreed, either party may end the arrangement by giving 14 days’ written notice via WhatsApp or email. Rebecca reserves the right to terminate an arrangement immediately in cases of persistent late payment, unreasonable conduct or unsafe working conditions.

Spade & Soil may photograph work carried out for sharing on Instagram (@itsbeckysgarden), the website or other promotional materials. No personally identifiable information will be included. If you prefer your garden not to be photographed, please let Rebecca know and this will be respected without exception.

Personal information provided to Spade & Soil is held solely for managing bookings and providing services. It will not be shared with third parties. For further information, contact Rebecca@spadeandsoil.co.uk.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service, please contact Rebecca directly by WhatsApp or email in the first instance. Rebecca is committed to resolving concerns promptly and professionally. If a complaint cannot be resolved informally, both parties agree to seek mediation before pursuing any legal remedy.

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Spade & Soil reserves the right to update these Terms & Conditions. The current version will always be available at spadeandsoil.co.uk. Continued use of the service following notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.