Terms of service

Please read these Terms and Conditions (“T&Cs”, “Terms”, “Terms and Conditions”) carefully before using the instanthedging.com website (the “Service”) operated by The Instant Hedging Company, a company directly owned by Harrod Outdoors Limited (“us”, “we”, or “our”).

Your ability to access and use the Service depends on your acceptance of these Terms and your ongoing compliance with them. These Terms apply to every visitor and user of the Service.

By accessing or using the Service, you confirm that you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Service.

Purchases

You should be aware of your legal rights under UK law, including the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, together with current consumer legislation (such as the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013) where applicable.

We are registered as a Plant Health Professional Operator and supply goods to UK consumers (end users) for personal use only. Goods purchased from us are not for resale.

If you decide to purchase any product or service through the Service (a “Purchase”), we may require relevant details to complete the transaction, such as your payment card number, expiry date, billing details, and delivery address.

You confirm and warrant that: (i) you are legally entitled to use the payment method(s) provided; and (ii) all information you give us is accurate, complete, and current. You agree that The Instant Hedging Company is not responsible for any loss arising from false, incorrect, or incomplete information supplied by you.

By submitting your information, you authorise us to share it with trusted third parties where needed to process your Purchase.

We may refuse or cancel any order at any time for reasons including (but not limited to) stock availability, mistakes in product descriptions or pricing, errors in your order, or any other reasonable ground. You agree that The Instant Hedging Company is not liable for any loss or damage caused by such refusal or cancellation.

We may also refuse or cancel an order where we suspect fraud, unauthorised use of a payment method, or other illegal activity.

Eligibility and age: By placing an order you confirm you are at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into a binding contract.

Prices and VAT: Prices shown will include or exclude VAT as indicated on the product page or checkout. We reserve the right to correct pricing errors at any time.

Purchases with Planting Service

Our planting services are delivered by Harrod Outdoors Limited. Their most up-to-date service terms, including current rules on cancellation fees, can be found in the Refund Policy and the Harrod Outdoors Terms of Usage (as updated from time to time).

The planting team will carry out the agreed work to a professional standard based on the site conditions encountered on the day. It is the customer’s duty to ensure the planting area is suitable and prepared beforehand—for example: clear and level ground, free of weeds, adequate drainage, and good-quality soil. If tree stumps are present, they must be removed before planting can begin. See the next section for details.

Soil excavated from planting holes will need to be redistributed within your garden. Commonly, it is mixed with compost and spread along a border. If plants are going into a lawn rather than a border, please tell us where excess soil should go or arrange its removal. We cannot remove soil from site.

If the team encounters difficult conditions, you accept that the team may raise concerns about site suitability, including (without limitation) waterlogging, poor drainage, compacted soil, or tree stumps. You may ask questions or request a pause. If you choose to continue, you confirm you are content for planting to proceed in light of the guidance and observations given.

Tree Stump Removal Policy

All existing stumps in the planting line must be completely removed before we start. Stumps can slow the job, damage equipment, and affect planting quality. If previously undisclosed stumps are found during the visit, removal will be charged as follows:

• Stumps up to 10 cm diameter: £50 per stump

• Stumps 11–20 cm diameter: £150 per stump

• Stumps 21–30 cm diameter: £300 per stump

Larger stumps generally require specialist machinery (e.g., stump grinder or digger) and will be priced individually from £500+ POA. In some cases, relocating the planting line may be recommended instead of removal.

To avoid delay and additional charges, we strongly recommend that stumps are fully removed by a competent professional before the team arrives.

Non-Refundable Scenarios

Once the planting service has started, no refunds will be issued unless the law requires it or Harrod Outdoors Limited is at fault.

Likewise, if our team attends but planting cannot proceed due to site issues within your control—such as unremoved stumps, unsafe or restricted access, unsuitable ground, or any unforeseen obstacle on site—no refund will be due. You may reschedule once the problem is fixed; further costs may apply.

Planting Conditions

All services are performed with reasonable care and skill. This does not amount to a guarantee or warranty as to the future performance or longevity of hedging.

We may provide general aftercare tips following planting. Daily care remains your responsibility, including suitable watering for weather and soil conditions, feeding, pruning, drainage management, and protection from pests and environmental stress.

As with all orders, The Instant Hedging Company is not responsible for issues arising after planting. Please also see No Guarantee or Warranty and Aftercare Responsibility below.

Delivery Delays

We make every effort to meet scheduled delivery dates. However, as explained in our delivery policy, we cannot accept liability for delays outside our control (including but not limited to carrier delays, supplier issues, driver illness, bank holidays, and adverse weather).

For this reason we cannot promise delivery in time for third-party gardeners or contractors you engage, and we cannot cover any related costs.

Our hedging typically remains healthy for a limited period in its original packaging if kept upright, well-watered, spaced out and unwrapped from protective film. This means you can arrange planting within the next few weeks if needed.

Supply Chain Disruption or Grower Failure

In the unlikely event of a supply disruption, grower failure, or a plant-health event that prevents us delivering as expected, we will let you know promptly.

Please allow up to 90 days for us to source and deliver stock of a similar size, quality, and specification. We will do our best to match your order. If we cannot supply a suitable alternative within that timeframe, you will be offered a full refund.

This clause applies only where circumstances are genuinely beyond our control—e.g., supplier insolvency, stock failure, plant health restrictions, or government rules on plant movement. We will keep communication clear and timely throughout.

No Guarantee or Warranty

Perishable, living plants are not sold with any guarantee or warranty. We do not offer a plant survival guarantee because living stock can decline quickly without proper care. Many factors outside our control—weather, pests, soil conditions, watering practice, and general aftercare—affect plant health.

Aftercare Responsibility

Ongoing maintenance is your responsibility. This includes appropriate watering, feeding, pruning, and monitoring site conditions. While we provide general resources and guidance, we cannot be responsible for losses caused by insufficient aftercare, unsuitable planting conditions, or failure to follow advice.

No Advice and Limitation of Liability

We provide general information to help your decision-making. Our instant hedging pages include links to external resources (e.g., RHS guidance) and our own care materials (such as “The Complete Guide to Instant Hedging”). We do not survey your site and cannot provide tailored professional advice about species suitability for your exact location or purpose. Selection, siting, and maintenance decisions rest with you.

You are responsible for checking that your intended location, prevailing conditions, and any planning or legal requirements are suitable for your chosen species. Our articles and guides are designed for general information in the UK and are not a substitute for professional or legal advice.

The Instant Hedging Company accepts no liability for decisions made in reliance on information from our website, materials, or staff. We are not responsible for planning outcomes, legal consequences, or species suitability. If in doubt, seek independent professional or legal advice.

By placing an order, you agree that neither The Instant Hedging Company nor Harrod Outdoors Limited will be liable for any loss, damage, or legal consequences arising from your purchase, planting location, or plant use in your specific circumstances.

Availability, Errors and Inaccuracies

Our product and service range is updated regularly. Items may be mispriced, inaccurately described, or temporarily unavailable, and updates to the Service or our advertising may lag behind reality. You agree that any listing on the Service is not a binding legal offer.

We do not warrant that information (including prices, images, specifications, stock levels, or services) is complete, accurate, or current at all times. We may change or correct information, and fix errors or omissions, at any time without notice. This section does not reduce any statutory rights you may have.

Contests, Sweepstakes and Promotions

From time to time we may run promotions (“Promotions”). Each Promotion may have its own rules, which apply in addition to these Terms. Please read the Promotion’s rules and our Privacy Policy carefully. If a Promotion’s rules conflict with these Terms, the Promotion rules will take priority for that Promotion only.

All promotions listed below are organised, promoted and fulfilled by Harrod Outdoors Limited, Company no. 12604361, registered address: 5 Queen Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, United Kingdom, NR30 2QP. Promotion terms will be shown on this page during the Promotion and for one further month.

Intellectual Property

The Service and all original content, functionality, and features are and will remain the exclusive property of The Instant Hedging Company and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trade mark, and other intellectual property laws in the UK and abroad. Our trade marks and trade dress must not be used with any product or service without our prior written consent.

Links To Other Websites

The Service may include links to third-party sites or services that we do not own or control.

We do not endorse and are not responsible for third-party content, privacy practices, or operations. You agree that The Instant Hedging Company is not liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss arising from your use of or reliance on third-party sites or services.

We recommend you read the terms and privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

Termination

We may suspend or end your access to the Service immediately, without notice or liability, for any reason, including (without limitation) if you breach these Terms.

When termination takes effect, your right to use the Service stops immediately.

The parts of these Terms that logically should continue after termination (for example, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnities, and liability limits) will continue to apply.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Instant Hedging Company, Harrod Outdoors Limited, and our/their licensors, employees, contractors, agents, officers, and directors, from and against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service; or (b) your breach of these Terms.

Limitation Of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Instant Hedging Company and Harrod Outdoors Limited, and their directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, and affiliates, are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages—this includes loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses—resulting from: (i) your use of, or inability to use, the Service; (ii) conduct or content of third parties on the Service; (iii) content obtained from the Service; or (iv) unauthorised access to or alteration of your transmissions or content—whether in contract, tort (including negligence), statutory duty, or otherwise—even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where the law does not allow it (for example, for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud).

Disclaimer

You use the Service at your own risk. The Service is provided “as is” and “as available” without any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or course of performance.

We do not warrant that: (a) the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or available at any specific time; (b) defects or errors will be corrected; (c) the Service is free from viruses or harmful components; or (d) the results of using the Service will meet your expectations.

Exclusions

Without limiting the above—and regardless of any other term—The Instant Hedging Company and Harrod Outdoors Limited will never be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary loss connected to your use of the Service or these Terms (including, without limitation, personal injury, or loss of data, business, markets, savings, income, profits, use, production, reputation, or goodwill), under any legal theory, whether or not we were advised that such losses could occur.

Nothing here excludes liability where such exclusion is prohibited by law.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. English courts will have non-exclusive jurisdiction. If any part of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts will continue in full force.

Our failure to enforce any right or term is not a waiver of that right or term. These Terms are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service and replace any previous agreements covering the Service.

Third-party rights: No one other than you and us has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of these Terms.

Force majeure: We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control (including, but not limited to, extreme weather, epidemics, acts of government, transport failures, labour disputes, utility failures, or supplier default).

Assignment: We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to another organisation. You may not assign or transfer your rights without our prior written consent.

Notices: We may contact you using the details you provided (including email). You should keep your contact details up to date.

Changes

We may update or replace these Terms at any time at our discretion. Where a material change is made, we will try to give at least 30 days’ notice before new terms take effect. What counts as “material” is decided by us, acting reasonably.

If you continue to use the Service after the effective date of the updated Terms, you agree to be bound by them. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Service.

Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy

Please read our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. They form part of these Terms, and you must review them before using the Service.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us.