diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 582d0ca..c90d70e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ PATs are not supported. Details: [docs/install/github-app.md](docs/install/githu
 
 Env vars and Helm mapping: [docs/configuration/](docs/configuration/).
 
+GitHub prominently exposes only `environment_url` and status `log_url`. Point
+`config.logURLTemplate` at Grafana Loki Explore, a Grafana dashboard, or another
+Flux/Kubernetes dashboard; enable `config.logURLTemplateEscape` for safe
+placeholder substitution. Copy-paste presets and Kustomization, HelmRelease,
+and monorepo examples are in [Log URL placeholders](docs/configuration/environment.md#log-url-placeholders).
+
 PVC / SQLite at `/data/cache.db` deduplicates
 `(owner, repo, environment, commitSHA, deploymentName)` across restarts - see
 [docs/install/persistence.md](docs/install/persistence.md).
diff --git a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/README.md b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/README.md
index dcd26d3..2cec9f8 100644
--- a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/README.md
+++ b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ helm upgrade --install github-deployment-bridge \
 | `config.environmentURL` | `""` | Optional URL attached to deployment statuses |
 | `config.description` | `""` | Optional default deployment description (empty → `Deployed by FluxCD`) |
 | `config.logURLTemplate` | `""` | Optional log URL template (`{sha}`, `{namespace}`, `{name}`, `{service}`, `{environment}`, `{cluster}`) |
+| `config.logURLTemplateEscape` | `false` | Percent-encode substituted log URL values |
 | `github.existingSecret` | `""` | Secret with `app-id`, `installation-id`, `private-key` |
 | `persistence.enabled` | `true` | PVC for SQLite deduplication cache (keep on in production) |
 | `networkPolicy.enabled` | `false` | Opt-in NetworkPolicy |
diff --git a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/templates/deployment.yaml b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/templates/deployment.yaml
index 6a1b6e0..f961a6e 100644
--- a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ spec:
               value: {{ .Values.config.description | quote }}
             - name: LOG_URL_TEMPLATE
               value: {{ .Values.config.logURLTemplate | quote }}
+            - name: LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE
+              value: {{ .Values.config.logURLTemplateEscape | quote }}
             - name: LOG_LEVEL
               value: {{ .Values.config.logLevel | default "info" | quote }}
             - name: METRICS_ADDR
diff --git a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.schema.json b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.schema.json
index a3af301..1def261 100644
--- a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.schema.json
+++ b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.schema.json
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@
         "environmentURL": { "type": "string" },
         "description": { "type": "string" },
         "logURLTemplate": { "type": "string" },
+        "logURLTemplateEscape": { "type": "boolean" },
         "logLevel": {
           "type": "string",
           "enum": ["debug", "info", "warn", "error"]
diff --git a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.yaml b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.yaml
index c661447..bc95dc4 100644
--- a/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/github-deployment-bridge/values.yaml
@@ -146,6 +146,9 @@ config:
   # {environment} {cluster}. Per-workload annotation log-url overrides this
   # and supports the same placeholders.
   logURLTemplate: ""
+  # Percent-encode every substituted placeholder value. The default false
+  # preserves the historical literal-substitution behavior.
+  logURLTemplateEscape: false
   # slog level: debug | info | warn | error
   logLevel: info
   leaderElection: true
diff --git a/docs/configuration/environment.md b/docs/configuration/environment.md
index c2b3ad4..a360464 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/environment.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/environment.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 | `ENVIRONMENT_URL` | no | | Default HTTPS URL on deployment statuses (overridable) |
 | `DESCRIPTION` | no | | Default GitHub Deployment description (overridable). Empty → `Deployed by FluxCD` |
 | `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE` | no | | Default log URL template (overridable). Placeholders: `{sha}`, `{namespace}`, `{name}`, `{service}`, `{environment}`, `{cluster}` |
+| `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE` | no | `false` | Percent-encode substituted values. Enable for templates containing path segments or query parameters; `false` preserves existing literal expansion. |
 | `LOG_LEVEL` | no | `info` | slog level: `debug`, `info`, `warn`, or `error` |
 | `METRICS_ADDR` | no | `:8080` | Prometheus metrics + convenience probes |
 | `PROBE_ADDR` | no | `:8081` | controller-runtime health probes |
@@ -43,10 +44,72 @@ annotation both expand these tokens (annotation wins when set):
 | `{environment}` | Resolved GitHub Deployment environment |
 | `{cluster}` | Resolved cluster name |
 
-Example (Grafana Loki Explore per service):
+Only GitHub's `environment_url` and Deployment Status `log_url` are prominent
+operational links. The bridge deliberately keeps the Deployment payload small;
+use `log_url` to send operators to the system that already owns the rich data.
+
+Set `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE=true` (Helm: `config.logURLTemplateEscape: true`)
+for the presets below. Each substituted value is percent-encoded without
+changing the template's URL syntax. The final result must be an absolute HTTPS
+URL. An invalid result is omitted with a warning; deployment reporting continues.
+
+## Copy-paste presets
+
+Replace only the hostname, datasource/dashboard identifiers, and any fixed
+dashboard path.
+
+### Grafana Loki Explore
 
 ```text
 https://grafana.example.com/a/grafana-lokiexplore-app/explore/service/{name}/logs?from=now-1h&to=now&var-ds=loki&var-filters=service_name%7C%3D%7C{name}&var-filters=namespace%7C%3D%7C{namespace}
 ```
 
+### Grafana dashboard
+
+```text
+https://grafana.example.com/d/workload/logs?var-cluster={cluster}&var-namespace={namespace}&var-service={service}&var-environment={environment}&var-sha={sha}
+```
+
+### Generic Flux/Kubernetes dashboard
+
+```text
+https://ops.example.com/clusters/{cluster}/namespaces/{namespace}/workloads/{name}?environment={environment}&service={service}&revision={sha}
+```
+
+## Workload overrides and monorepos
+
+The annotation remains a template and takes precedence over the global value.
+This Kustomization-managed Deployment uses the global preset and gives one
+monorepo workload its own deployment identity:
+
+```yaml
+apiVersion: apps/v1
+kind: Deployment
+metadata:
+  name: storefront-api
+  namespace: storefront
+  annotations:
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/auto-report: "true"
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/deployment-name: "storefront-api"
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/service: "api"
+```
+
+A HelmRelease-managed StatefulSet can override the link (annotations belong on
+the discovered workload, usually via the chart's pod/workload annotation values):
+
+```yaml
+apiVersion: apps/v1
+kind: StatefulSet
+metadata:
+  name: checkout-worker
+  namespace: checkout
+  annotations:
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/auto-report: "true"
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/deployment-name: "checkout-worker"
+    github-deployment-bridge.io/log-url: "https://grafana.example.com/d/workload/logs?var-cluster={cluster}&var-namespace={namespace}&var-service={service}&var-sha={sha}"
+```
+
+`deployment-name` separates cache/supersession identity for repositories with
+multiple workloads; it does not add a new visible GitHub payload field.
+
 See also: [Helm values map](./helm-values.md)
diff --git a/docs/configuration/helm-values.md b/docs/configuration/helm-values.md
index ff6d815..b007103 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/helm-values.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/helm-values.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 | `config.environmentURL` | `ENVIRONMENT_URL` |
 | `config.description` | `DESCRIPTION` |
 | `config.logURLTemplate` | `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE` |
+| `config.logURLTemplateEscape` | `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE` |
 | `config.logLevel` | `LOG_LEVEL` |
 | `config.leaderElection` | `LEADER_ELECTION` |
 | `config.githubBaseURL` | `GITHUB_BASE_URL` |
diff --git a/docs/install/helm.md b/docs/install/helm.md
index 5db8e95..1180414 100644
--- a/docs/install/helm.md
+++ b/docs/install/helm.md
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ helm upgrade --install github-deployment-bridge \
   --set config.clusterName=production-eu \
   --set config.environment=production \
   --set config.environmentURL=https://app.example.com \
-  --set config.logURLTemplate='https://grafana.example.com/explore?commit={sha}'
+	  --set config.logURLTemplate='https://grafana.example.com/explore?commit={sha}' \
+	  --set config.logURLTemplateEscape=true
 ```
 
 Per-service Loki Explore links (common for Grafana) can use workload placeholders
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ config:
   environmentURL: https://app.example.com
   # Placeholders: {sha} {namespace} {name} {service} {environment} {cluster}
   logURLTemplate: https://grafana.example.com/explore?commit={sha}
+  logURLTemplateEscape: true
   logLevel: info
 
 github:
@@ -150,6 +152,7 @@ reference (env vars, Helm map, metrics, registries).
 | `config.environmentURL` | `ENVIRONMENT_URL` | Optional URL on deployment statuses |
 | `config.description` | `DESCRIPTION` | Optional default deployment description (default `Deployed by FluxCD`) |
 | `config.logURLTemplate` | `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE` | Optional log URL template (`{sha}`, `{namespace}`, `{name}`, `{service}`, `{environment}`, `{cluster}`) |
+| `config.logURLTemplateEscape` | `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE` | Percent-encode substituted values (recommended) |
 | `config.logLevel` | `LOG_LEVEL` | `debug` / `info` / `warn` / `error` |
 | `config.githubBaseURL` | `GITHUB_BASE_URL` | GitHub Enterprise base URL |
 
diff --git a/docs/operations/grafana.md b/docs/operations/grafana.md
index d28194a..a6142b6 100644
--- a/docs/operations/grafana.md
+++ b/docs/operations/grafana.md
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ prometheusRule:
     release: kube-prometheus-stack
 ```
 
+## Link GitHub deployments to Grafana
+
+Use the bridge's `log_url` template to make GitHub's **View deployment logs**
+link open the relevant Grafana view. Ready-to-use Loki Explore and dashboard
+templates are in [Log URL placeholders](../configuration/environment.md#copy-paste-presets).
+Enable `config.logURLTemplateEscape: true` so workload-derived values cannot
+alter the URL query or path. This links to Grafana; it does not add Grafana data
+or provider-specific fields to the GitHub Deployment payload.
+
 ## Import
 
 ### Grafana UI
diff --git a/docs/operations/runbook.md b/docs/operations/runbook.md
index 557ae4b..a9189c8 100644
--- a/docs/operations/runbook.md
+++ b/docs/operations/runbook.md
@@ -108,3 +108,16 @@ When alerts are quiet but GitHub shows no Deployment:
    bridges share a repo.
 4. Dedup cache: same `(owner, repo, environment, commit, deploymentName)` skips
    duplicates - expected after retries.
+
+## Deployment log link is missing (no alert)
+
+1. Confirm `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE` / `config.logURLTemplate`, or the workload's
+   `github-deployment-bridge.io/log-url` override, is non-empty.
+2. Search bridge logs for `log URL template expanded to an invalid HTTPS URL`.
+   Invalid links are intentionally omitted without failing reconciliation or
+   GitHub deployment/status reporting.
+3. The expanded URL must be absolute HTTPS. Enable
+   `LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE=true` / `config.logURLTemplateEscape: true` when
+   workload values appear in paths or query parameters.
+4. Copy a known-good [preset](../configuration/environment.md#copy-paste-presets)
+   and replace its host and dashboard/datasource identifiers.
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index dc279bf..e4ee6b6 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ package config
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	EnvironmentURL             string        `envconfig:"ENVIRONMENT_URL"`
 	Description                string        `envconfig:"DESCRIPTION"`
 	LogURLTemplate             string        `envconfig:"LOG_URL_TEMPLATE"`
+	LogURLTemplateEscape       bool          `envconfig:"LOG_URL_TEMPLATE_ESCAPE" default:"false"`
 	LogLevel                   string        `envconfig:"LOG_LEVEL" default:"info"`
 	MetricsAddr                string        `envconfig:"METRICS_ADDR" default:":8080"`
 	ProbeAddr                  string        `envconfig:"PROBE_ADDR" default:":8081"`
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ type LogURLVars struct {
 
 // ExpandLogURL substitutes placeholders in LOG_URL_TEMPLATE.
 func (c Config) ExpandLogURL(v LogURLVars) string {
-	return ExpandLogURLTemplate(c.LogURLTemplate, v)
+	return ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(c.LogURLTemplate, v, c.LogURLTemplateEscape)
 }
 
 // ExpandLogURLTemplate substitutes log URL placeholders in tmpl.
@@ -113,6 +115,12 @@ func (c Config) ExpandLogURL(v LogURLVars) string {
 // Supported: {sha}, {namespace}, {name}, {service}, {environment}, {cluster}.
 // {service} falls back to {name} when Service is empty.
 func ExpandLogURLTemplate(tmpl string, v LogURLVars) string {
+	return ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(tmpl, v, false)
+}
+
+// ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped substitutes placeholders, optionally percent-encoding
+// each value so it is safe in both URL paths and query parameters.
+func ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(tmpl string, v LogURLVars, escape bool) string {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(tmpl) == "" {
 		return ""
 	}
@@ -120,12 +128,20 @@ func ExpandLogURLTemplate(tmpl string, v LogURLVars) string {
 	if service == "" {
 		service = v.Name
 	}
+	value := func(s string) string {
+		if escape {
+			// QueryEscape covers URL delimiters (including '/', '&', '?' and '#').
+			// Use %20 rather than '+' so the result is also safe in path segments.
+			return strings.ReplaceAll(url.QueryEscape(s), "+", "%20")
+		}
+		return s
+	}
 	return strings.NewReplacer(
-		"{sha}", v.SHA,
-		"{namespace}", v.Namespace,
-		"{name}", v.Name,
-		"{service}", service,
-		"{environment}", v.Environment,
-		"{cluster}", v.Cluster,
+		"{sha}", value(v.SHA),
+		"{namespace}", value(v.Namespace),
+		"{name}", value(v.Name),
+		"{service}", value(service),
+		"{environment}", value(v.Environment),
+		"{cluster}", value(v.Cluster),
 	).Replace(tmpl)
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index f333e07..43fbdcc 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -118,6 +118,18 @@ func TestExpandLogURLTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 			vars: config.LogURLVars{Name: "backend"},
 			want: "https://logs.example.com/s/backend",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "grafana dashboard preset",
+			tmpl: "https://grafana.example.com/d/workload/logs?var-cluster={cluster}&var-namespace={namespace}&var-service={service}&var-environment={environment}&var-sha={sha}",
+			vars: config.LogURLVars{SHA: "deadbeef", Namespace: "apps", Name: "api", Cluster: "prod", Environment: "production"},
+			want: "https://grafana.example.com/d/workload/logs?var-cluster=prod&var-namespace=apps&var-service=api&var-environment=production&var-sha=deadbeef",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "generic flux kubernetes dashboard preset",
+			tmpl: "https://ops.example.com/clusters/{cluster}/namespaces/{namespace}/workloads/{name}?environment={environment}&service={service}&revision={sha}",
+			vars: config.LogURLVars{SHA: "abc", Namespace: "payments", Name: "worker", Service: "payments-worker", Cluster: "eu-1", Environment: "staging"},
+			want: "https://ops.example.com/clusters/eu-1/namespaces/payments/workloads/worker?environment=staging&service=payments-worker&revision=abc",
+		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -129,6 +141,28 @@ func TestExpandLogURLTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		tmpl   string
+		vars   config.LogURLVars
+		escape bool
+		want   string
+	}{
+		{"backwards compatible literal values", "https://logs.example/{namespace}?q={service}", config.LogURLVars{Namespace: "team one", Service: "api/core"}, false, "https://logs.example/team one?q=api/core"},
+		{"escape path and query values", "https://logs.example/{namespace}?q={service}&env={environment}", config.LogURLVars{Namespace: "team one", Service: "api/core?x=1", Environment: "preview & qa"}, true, "https://logs.example/team%20one?q=api%2Fcore%3Fx%3D1&env=preview%20%26%20qa"},
+		{"escape fallback service", "https://logs.example/?service={service}", config.LogURLVars{Name: "api/canary"}, true, "https://logs.example/?service=api%2Fcanary"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := config.ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(tt.tmpl, tt.vars, tt.escape); got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestLogLevel(t *testing.T) {
 	base := func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Helper()
diff --git a/internal/deployment/reporter.go b/internal/deployment/reporter.go
index c7debb1..f6320d4 100644
--- a/internal/deployment/reporter.go
+++ b/internal/deployment/reporter.go
@@ -434,15 +434,18 @@ func (r *Reporter) resolveImage(ctx context.Context, img WorkloadImage) (metadat
 	if !fromAnnotation {
 		tmpl = r.cfg.LogURLTemplate
 	}
-	if logURL := config.ExpandLogURLTemplate(tmpl, vars); logURL != "" {
+	if logURL := config.ExpandLogURLTemplateEscaped(tmpl, vars, r.cfg.LogURLTemplateEscape); logURL != "" {
 		if !metadata.ValidHTTPSURL(logURL) {
 			src := "LOG_URL_TEMPLATE"
 			if fromAnnotation {
 				src = metadata.AnnotationLogURL
 			}
-			return metadata.Resolved{}, "", retry.Permanent(fmt.Errorf("%s expanded to invalid HTTPS URL %q", src, logURL))
+			r.log.Warn("log URL template expanded to an invalid HTTPS URL; omitting log_url",
+				"source", src, "url", logURL, "workload_kind", img.Kind,
+				"workload_namespace", img.Namespace, "workload_name", img.Name)
+		} else {
+			resolved.LogURL = logURL
 		}
-		resolved.LogURL = logURL
 	}
 
 	return resolved, ociMeta.Digest, nil
diff --git a/internal/deployment/reporter_test.go b/internal/deployment/reporter_test.go
index 634dce5..28d1e6e 100644
--- a/internal/deployment/reporter_test.go
+++ b/internal/deployment/reporter_test.go
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@
 package deployment_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -225,6 +227,31 @@ func TestReporterLogURLAnnotationTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestReporterInvalidExpandedLogURLIsOmitted(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	store, err := cache.Open(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "cache.db"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open cache: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = store.Close() })
+
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	logger := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&logs, nil))
+	g := &fakeGitHub{}
+	r := deployment.NewReporter(config.Config{ClusterName: "prod", Environment: "production", LogURLTemplate: "://bad/{name}"}, store,
+		&fakeRegistry{meta: ocilabels.Metadata{Source: "https://github.com/example/backend", Revision: "deadbeef", Digest: "sha256:abc"}}, g, nil, logger, "test")
+
+	if err := r.Report(context.Background(), sampleInput(deployment.PhaseSuccess)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid log URL must not fail reporting: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(g.statuses) != 1 || g.statuses[0].LogURL != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("statuses = %#v, want one status without log URL", g.statuses)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "invalid HTTPS URL; omitting log_url") || !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "source=LOG_URL_TEMPLATE") {
+		t.Fatalf("warning log = %q", logs.String())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestReporterPayloadOptionalAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	r, g := newTestReporter(t, nil)
diff --git a/pkg/metadata/resolve.go b/pkg/metadata/resolve.go
index 681547e..7ca9981 100644
--- a/pkg/metadata/resolve.go
+++ b/pkg/metadata/resolve.go
@@ -100,12 +100,11 @@ func Resolve(annotations map[string]string, oci ocilabels.Metadata, defaults Def
 		return Resolved{}, err
 	}
 
-	// Annotation log-url may still contain placeholders; the reporter expands them.
-	// defaults.LogURL is unused (template applied in the reporter after resolve).
-	logURL, err := resolveHTTPSURL(ann[AnnotationLogURL], defaults.LogURL, AnnotationLogURL)
-	if err != nil {
-		return Resolved{}, err
-	}
+	// log-url is a template, not a URL yet. The reporter expands and validates it
+	// non-fatally so a broken operational link cannot block deployment reporting.
+	// defaults.LogURL is retained for API compatibility; runtime templates are
+	// selected by the reporter.
+	logURL := firstNonEmpty(ann[AnnotationLogURL], defaults.LogURL)
 
 	description := firstNonEmpty(ann[AnnotationDescription], defaults.Description)
 	if description == "" {