Help & FAQ

Lend & Tend is a platform that connects people who have garden space they'd like to share (lenders) with people who want somewhere to garden (tenders). We're a moderated, safe service that helps both sides find each other and agree terms — without Joyce having to be in the middle of every introduction.

Click "Join Lend & Tend" at the top of the page. You'll need an email address and password. During sign-up you'll tell us whether you're joining as a lender, a tender, or both. It takes about 2 minutes.

Browsing the map and creating a profile are free. There's a one-off £12 joining fee before you can send or receive private messages. This is a declaration of intent — it shows you're serious about finding a match. Concessions are available for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or other financial difficulty.

If the £12 fee is a barrier, you can self-declare a concession on the Join page. This is entirely honour-based in the current version. We may ask for evidence in future.

Once signed in, click "Lend" in the navigation bar. Fill in your garden title, a description, key details (size, sun, water access), what you're hoping for, any restrictions, and your postcode. Your exact location is never shown — we blur it for privacy.

Browse the map or switch to the List view on the /map page. Click any pin or card to see the full listing, then click "Send message" to start a chat with the lender.

Messages are stored on our platform (not end-to-end encrypted) so they can be moderated if needed. Messages are scanned for suspicious content before delivery. Admins can view chats that have been flagged or reported.

Your exact address is only shared through the Garden Sharing Agreement, once both parties have formally agreed to work together. Until that point, locations are blurred on the map.

Once you've chatted and agreed on terms, either party can propose a formal agreement from within a garden listing. The agreement captures access times, what will be grown, and any other key terms. Once both the lender and tender have accepted, the agreement is sealed with a timestamp.

In any chat, use the Block or Report buttons at the top of the conversation. Blocking prevents that person from contacting you. Reporting flags the conversation for review by our team.

Either party can withdraw from an agreement. If you're struggling, use the Contact form and we'll help mediate.