Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using SoilMapUK ("Site"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

2. Description of Service

SoilMapUK is an independent, open-source educational project that provides information about soil quality across the United Kingdom. The Site aggregates publicly available data from various open-source databases and research materials.

Important Disclaimer: SoilMapUK is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to any UK government agency, department, or institution. We are an independent project created to make soil information more accessible to the public.

3. Educational Purpose

This Site is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The information presented should not be considered as:

• Professional agricultural advice
• Official government recommendations
• Substitute for professional soil testing
• Legal or regulatory guidance
• Certified or verified soil analysis

4. Data Sources and Accuracy

4.1 Open-Source Data

All data on this Site is compiled from publicly available open-source databases, including but not limited to:

• GOV.UK State of the Environment reports
• UK Soil Observatory (UKSO)
• LandIS Soilscapes Viewer
• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Environment Agency public data
• Cranfield University research databases

4.2 No Guarantees

While we strive to provide accurate information, we make no warranties or guarantees regarding:

• Accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of data
• Suitability for any particular purpose
• Reliability of aggregated information
• Real-time updates or currency of data

5. User Responsibilities

As a user of this Site, you agree to:

• Use the Site for lawful purposes only
• Conduct professional soil testing before making land use decisions
• Consult with qualified agricultural or environmental experts
• Not rely solely on this Site's information for critical decisions
• Not misrepresent the Site as an official government resource
• Not use automated tools to scrape or harvest Site content

6. Limitation of Liability

IMPORTANT: To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• SoilMapUK is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind
• We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• We are not liable for any damages arising from use of the Site or reliance on its information
• We are not responsible for decisions made based on Site content
• We are not liable for crop failures, financial losses, or property damage

7. No Professional Relationship

Use of this Site does not create any professional relationship between you and SoilMapUK. We do not provide:

• Agricultural consulting services
• Professional soil analysis
• Land management advice
• Environmental compliance guidance

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Site Content

The Site design, layout, and original content are provided as an open-source project. However, underlying data sources may be subject to their respective licenses and terms.

8.2 Third-Party Content

Data aggregated from government and research sources remains subject to the original sources' terms of use and copyright policies.

9. External Links

The Site contains links to external websites and data sources. We are not responsible for:

• Content of linked websites
• Privacy practices of third parties
• Availability or accuracy of external resources
• Any damages resulting from use of external links

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SoilMapUK and its contributors from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Site
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of third parties
• Decisions made based on Site information

11. Changes to Service

We reserve the right to:

• Modify or discontinue the Site at any time
• Update data sources and methodologies
• Change features or functionality
• Restrict access to certain features

Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site.

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of revised Terms. Please review this page periodically.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and SoilMapUK regarding use of the Site.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact:

Email: legal@soilmapuk.com (example - please update with actual contact)

17. Acknowledgment

By using SoilMapUK, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Terms
• You understand this is an independent open-source project
• You agree to use information for educational purposes only
• You will conduct professional testing for actual land use
• You will not hold SoilMapUK liable for any damages