Important & Useful Information

What I offer for sale, is, by nature, quite simple. In the interest of clarity and safety however, please read the following important and useful information.

All products are intended for use by competent persons only.

All products and packaging should be received, unpacked, handled, moved and positioned/installed by competent persons only.

Products offered on this site are not toys and are not for use by children. The packaging used to deliver the products are not toys and are not for use by children.

Caution Heavy

Due to their sturdy nature, most items are heavy or very heavy.

Packaging is also often heavy and may include wooden cases and/or pallets.

Caution when taking delivery of and unpacking items, in order to prevent bodily harm to yourself and others (see 'Packaging for Delivery' section below).

Caution when lifting, moving, positioning or fixing items, in order to prevent bodily harm to yourself and others.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as sturdy gloves, safety glasses/goggles, safety boots and safety helmet etc.

Always take care and plan the work, giving sufficient thought to safe ways of working.

Do not exceed your capabilities.

Seek assistance or professional help as necessary - we all need help sometimes.

Look after yourself and others - stay safe.

Packaging for Delivery/Unpacking

All products and packaging should be received, unpacked, handled/moved and positioned/installed by competent persons only.

Caution: Take care when unpacking/handling products, in order to avoid bodily harm to yourself and others.

Both products and packaging are often heavy or very heavy.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as sturdy gloves, safety glasses/goggles, safety boots and safety helmet etc. when unpacking/handling products.

While products and packaging are robust and will be dispatched to you in good condition, please look out for any damage to the packaging or products that may have occurred after dispatch.

Watch out for splinters, nails, screws, nuts, bolts, staples, string, banding and other fixings and fasteners etc. in order to avoid bodily harm to yourself and others.

Carefully pick up any packaging materials, fixings and fastenings etc. off the floor as you go, to avoid a trip/fall hazard, treading on nails, screws, staples, nuts and bolts etc.

Packaging materials should be tidied away and small parts/fixings/fastenings etc. kept away form children to avoid a choking hazard.

Do not exceed your capabilities.

Seek assistance or professional help as necessary - we all need help sometimes.

Look after yourself and others - stay safe.

Packaging is kept to a minimum wherever possible. Many products are heavy however and robust packaging is often called for. Plastic and non-recyclable materials are avoided to a greater extent in favour of more natural materials. Typical packaging may include hessian (jute) or cotton cloth/sacks/sacking and jute or sisal twine, timber cases or pallets, cardboard boxes and packing and card labels. On occasion it may be necessary to use some plastic. To avoid the risk of suffocation please keep plastic packaging, plastic wrapping, plastic film and plastic bags etc. away from babies and children.

General Safety

All products are intended for use by competent persons only.

Products offered on this site are not toys and are not for use by children. The packaging used to deliver the products are not toys and are not for use by children.

The packaging used is intended for transportation of the products only and should be safely and responsibly recycled or disposed of through official/approved channels once it is no longer required for transportation purposes. Any repurposing of products or packaging is at the customers own judgement and risk. 

Products and packaging are not food safe approved and are not intended to be used for the storage or preparation of food, or in the cultivation of food crops.

Products should be inspected regularly and any damaged or degraded products or packaging should be handled carefully using the appropriate personal protective equipment (such as sturdy gloves, safety glasses/goggles, safety boots and safety helmet etc.) and either safely repaired by a competent person, or safely disposed of through official/approved channels by a competent person, as appropriate. If in doubt seek professional help.

Siting of Products

All products are intended for use by competent persons only.

All products and packaging should be received, unpacked, handled, moved and positioned/installed by competent persons only.

Remember that the products are often heavy or very heavy. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as sturdy gloves, safety glasses/goggles, safety boots and safety helmet etc. Planters and plant pots will become even heavier when filled with compost/soil/plants etc. and even more so when they are watered/wet.

Take care in locating products. It is the customers/owners responsibility to ensure that the place where the products are sited is strong enough to safely support the weight. Give thought and consideration as to where you site products. Do not place where they may be in the way, or be knocked over or fall on anyone. Do not place where they may cause a trip, fall, collision or other hazard. Ensure that the site is level, firm, and stable and is able to safely support the weight and that there is no risk of them tipping over, falling or rolling. Take note that if plant pots/planters are planted with tall plants/shrubs etc. then this will raise their overall centre of gravity. This may make them more likely to tip over if knocked or in windy conditions.

It is the responsiblity of the customer/owner to ensure that the product is sited safely and that it is suitably stable for a given location and does not present a danger or cause bodily harm. If in doubt seek professional help.

When siting plant pots/planters, please pay particular attention to the preferences of the plants that you are intending them to contain. For example, will they tolerate full sun or do they require shade or partial shade etc.? Are they frost hardy or not etc.?Please also note that dark coloured pots and their contents tend to get warmer than light coloured pots when placed in sunshine, which may not suit some plants. For this reason, darker coloured pots/planters are, in many cases, better suited to locations that are not exposed to full sunshine, the midday sun and/or the afternoon sun. Darker coloured pots/planters tend to be well suited to placement in shade or light shade. It is the customers/owners responsiblity to choose an appropriate position for each pot/planter.

If the product is to be attached/fixed to a surface/structure using fixings, it is important to make sure that your choice of fixings are appropriate and sufficiently strong. The structure/surface to which the product is to be attached must be capable of securely receiving/retaining the fixings and withstanding/supporting the load/weight of the product and any contents. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as sturdy gloves, safety glasses/goggles, safety boots and safety helmet etc. Please note that fixings are generally not supplied as the type of fixings required is heavily influenced by the nature of the supporting surface/structure. It is the responsiblity of the customer/owner to make sure that suitable fixings are used and that the product is safely and securely attached/fixed and does not present a danger. If in doubt seek professional help.

Surface Staining

It is possible for the products to stain or mark the surfaces upon which they are placed. It is especially important to bear this in mind if the surface is light in colour as it will of course be more noticeable. It is the responsibility of the customer/owner to choose the appropriate site/placement position for a product and I take no blame, responsibility or liability for discolouration of paving, tiles or flooring etc. that may arise.

Ornamental Products: Not Food Safe Approved

All products are intended for ornamental purposes only and are not intended to be used in the storage or preparation of food, or in the cultivation of food crops.

Product Description and Delivery Costs

Every effort is made to describe products accurately, including detailed descriptions, specifications and numerous photographs. All weights, dimensions and volumes given, are approximate and are intended for general guidance purposes only. 

Because of the products' heavy weight, packaging and delivery costs can be significant. It is therefore very important that if you are thinking of purchasing an item, you give it the necessary consideration. I typically make only a handful of pieces a year. If you are in two minds as to whether to purchase a piece or not, then my advice to you would be simple - please don't!  From a practical point of view, it's quite a job in itself and indeed no little expense, for me to crate and have delivered much of my work, particularly the larger, heavier pieces. It serves no purpose if you're just not sure. Where any item is returned due to a customer changing their mind, any costs associated with returning the item, which can be significant and may include pallet/case shipment and the cost of packing and strapping that this can entail, must be met by the customer. Items must be returned in good condition and in/on the original packaging/case/pallet/box as appropriate, together with proof of purchase within one month of you receiving them, in order to qualify for a refund. It is recommended that you insure in full any product with your courier/insurance provider of choice. For more information please see 'Terms & Conditions'.

Product Uniformity, Surface Finish, Weights and Dimensions

All  products are handmade and some variation in geometry and surface finish etc. is normal. Even pairs or groups will be slightly different. The aim is to achieve a solid balance between form and function. For example if long term durability can be improved by the addition of a little extra paint in a few key areas then it will be applied for the sake of being over precious about excessive aesthetic perfection. All weights, dimensions and volumes given, are approximate and are intended for general guidance purposes only.

Hot-Dip Galvanising

Hot-dip galvanising (HDG) is the process of coating iron or steel with a layer of zinc by immersing the metal in molten zinc at a temperature of around 450 °C (842 °F). HDG is an effective form of corrosion protecton and results in a very durable steel-zinc alloy layer and zinc coating over this. Due to the nature of the process, the finish can be varied, ranging from very shiny (with or without spangles), to a duller appearance and anywhere in between. Generally speaking, this treatment is extremely durable and very effective at protecting the steel (with or without any further finishes, such as paint for example, which may be added to achieve a different look). Under normal conditions, galvanised products can last for many decades. Certain environments however, particularly those areas exposed to salt or salt water (such as maritime/coastal environments) or chlorine/other chemicals (such as around swimming pools etc.), may cause accelerated deterioration of the product and result in premature failure. Hot-dip galvanised products are often not the best choice for such environments and other materials/products should be considered in preference. It is the responsibilty of the customer/owner to avoid placing products in such environments. Doing so will invalidate any guarantee of a long life for the product.

Surface Finishes, Including Painted Finishes

Products are designed and made in the full expectation that they will last a long time -for decades, not just a few years. Typically the construction is robust, combining thick steel, heavy welds and hot-dip galvanised corrosion protection (a very durable method of corrosion protection capable of lasting for very many years, without the use of any additonal finishes) - a tried and tested combination. With some pieces, a quality multi-coat paint finish adds both aesthetic appeal and even further protection. Whist products are durable, over time, scuffs, scratches and other degradation of any surface finish is inevitable, it's simply a fact of life and adds depth of character. Personally I prefer this 'lived in', honest look, however it is not to everyone's taste. Some owners may opt to give a piece an occasional 'face lift' in the form of a lick of paint, perhaps every decade or two, and that's fine, it's a case of individual taste. To be clear, it should be noted that the default expectation from the very outset, is for a piece to be left to age gracefully. That is to say that the inevitable knocks, scuffs, scratches, blemishes, blistering, flaking and any other degradation to the finish that will be aquired over time, are part of the expected and natural ageing of the piece and integral to its character. The decision and indeed responsibility of any painting or repainting will fall to the customer/owner and are outside the scope of the guarantee.

Drainage

Plentiful drainage is provided by means of a hole/holes in the base of pots/planters. Depending on the planting medium used, it may be necessary to use some form of crocking in the base, particularly over large drainage holes before filling the pot, to aid with compost retention and long term drainage.

Prices

All prices are in British pound sterling (GBP)

No VAT is charged or included in the purchase price. (Annual turnover is less than the UK VAT threshold and I am therefore not registered for VAT).

Delivery

Complimentary delivery to much of the United Kingdom (UK).

Complimentary standard delivery is offered to those places in the UK that are covered by basic delivery rates/costs. Certain locations in the UK (e.g. Islands, Scottish Highlands, etc.) attract higher delivery costs because of their remoteness, difficulty in getting to etc. If you live in one of these places, then you will of course be only too aware of this and it will come as no surprise. It may be the case that you will have to pay the additional costs above the basic delivery rates/costs.

I regret that due to regulations regarding wooden packaging, I am unable to deliver products to Northern Ireland. I do not deliver products to locations outside of the United Kingdom. 

Given the nature of some items, particularly the larger/heavier goods, delivered in large cases and/or on pallets, it is essential that you make all necessary arrangements to safely take receipt of the items when they are delivered by the courier. If you do not receive any item you should contact me without delay. (contact@treesfootfoundry.co.uk) If when taking receipt of a delivery there are any signs of damage to the packaging/contents please take a number of detailed photographs. Please record details of the damage on the delivery note, officially log it with the delivery driver and discuss the correct course of action with the delivery driver. If you take receipt of a delivery and upon opening it find any damage to an item, please again take a number of detailed photographs of the damage to both the item and the packaging. Please do not throw away any packaging or items whatsoever, as these, together with the detailed photographs, will be needed in support of a claim. In all cases please contact me without delay. (contact@treesfootfoundry.co.uk)

I will endeavour to attend to your order as a matter of priority and will of course do my very best to keep you well informed as to its progress.

Thank you for your attention  - I hope that my work will bring you pleasure for many years to come.