LEAD & HEAVY-METAL TESTING FOR FAMILY GARDENS

Know what's in the ground they play on.

Take a small soil sample from your garden, post it back, and get a clear, plain-English report on lead, arsenic and cadmium, analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.

Why test your garden soil?

Older homes, hidden history. Old lead paint, past traffic fumes from leaded petrol, coal ash and former industry can all leave metals in garden soil, especially in older towns and cities.Little hands, little mouths. Young children play close to the ground and put their hands in their mouths, so they take in more soil than adults do.Growing your own. If you grow vegetables or fruit, it's worth knowing what's in the soil before you plant, so you can choose the right beds and crops.

Why lead matters

There is no known safe level. The UK Health Security Agency says there is no known safe level of lead exposure. In children, even low levels have been linked to lower intelligence, learning problems and behavioural difficulties.Soil is a common source. In UK cases of raised lead levels in children reported in 2025, soil was the most often identified possible source, ahead of old paint and water pipes.You can't see it. Soil with raised lead looks and feels like any other soil. Testing is the only way to know.It's manageable. If levels are raised, simple steps like raised beds with clean topsoil, covering bare patches and washing hands and vegetables make a real difference.

Could your garden be affected?

Lead in soil is more likely if any of these apply:• Older home. Your home was built before the 1970s, when lead paint was common.
• Busy road nearby. Your garden is near a road that carried traffic in the leaded-petrol era.
• Older town or city. You live in an older urban area, or near former industrial or mining sites.
• Hidden debris. You've found old ash, coal, rubble or bits of painted wood when digging.
• Young children. Little ones play on bare soil in your garden.
• Home-grown food. You grow vegetables, especially leafy greens and root crops like carrots.Ticked one or more? It's worth knowing for sure. One test tells you what's in your soil and what, if anything, to do about it.

• Join the waitlist

How it works

1. Order your kit. It arrives through your letterbox with everything you need and simple instructions.2. Take a sample and post it. Ten minutes with a trowel, then pop it back in the prepaid envelope.3. Get your report. A UKAS-accredited lab analyses it, and you get a clear report by email showing lead, arsenic and cadmium against UK guideline values, with practical next steps if any level is raised.

Results are compared against published UK guideline values for soil. A report tells you what is in your soil; it is not a guarantee of safety or a substitute for professional or medical advice. We only use your email to tell you about Small Feet Soil's launch. © 2026 Small Feet Soil