Duchy Garden Tools Collection

Over recent years I’ve become mighty tired of replacing my gardening equipment. Don’t worry, it wasn’t being stolen. The memory’s not quite what it was, but it’s still uncharacteristic for me to misplace a tool. So what’s happening, you ask? Well it seems they don’t make them to the old standards. The cheaper ones are mostly rubbish. Mass manufactured and probably designed by someone who never wielded a garden spade or fork in their life. This ongoing complaint with modern tools was becoming somewhat tiresome among my gardening friends. It was only last month that somebody suggested I try out the Duchy Garden Tools Collection.

I admit to being skeptical. Instead of making a blind purchase, I used the internet to research the collection. I learned that these particular tools were designed and crafted from Victorian drawings and combined quality materials with traditional British craftsmanship. Yeah, I thought. Heard it all before. Then I looked at the prices and nearly fell off my chair. Upon regaining balance, I got on the telephone and asked them to courier me their premium digging spade. It arrived promptly the next day, tightly packaged in that annoying bubble material. Then we unwrapped my sixty odd pound investment and settled down for a closer inspection.

Elegant is one word which probably gets bandied about too readily these days. This new digging spade necessitates a descriptive category which I generally prefer to associate with lime scented aftershave and suede brogues. The stainless steel blade is polished to a mirror finish and the shaft is fashioned from a solid piece of Canadian Ash. When picked up, there’s a decent sense of balance and stability. This was one elegant garden tool and I felt convinced that it’s combination of timber, waxes, and steel should see it through some serious gardening activities.

It’s already seen plenty of work around my old potato and onion field. I’ve used it to replant some citrus saplings and a friend borrowed it to dig out a miniature fishpond. So far so good. The blade remains true and the mirror finish is barely scratched. I presume this is titanium steel although I wonder how it fits with the heritage craftsmanship?

Without fear or favour, I’m happy to recommend the Digging Spade for anyone who appreciates fine quality and is prepared to spend (well) beyond the basic amount to obtain this. I’m seriously thinking about purchasing some other tools in the range and may well review these at a later date.