Is b) LET OR HINDRANCE... I think not cos I haven't managed to work the deer in...

[rab] The two-foot tree - PAWPAW?

Its a reference to The Goilden Hind I do believe and a very tortuous one at that. Well I have a pretty rubbish one that isn't quite right but I reckon could be gotten away iwth in an iffy puzzle :-
Digitally enhance fringes (7)
and two old favorites from the guardian :-
HIJKLMNO (5)
They meet for lunch (5)[_ _ _ T _]

[Hugo Rune] Yes!
[st d] Please explain the Golden Hind reference.

[st d] Your first is FINGERS. As you say, iffy, because the definition defines a different part of speech.