LANDSCAPE & GARDENING Cutting hedge kit
ToolKit uncovers the ‘mow-down’ on the world of landscape and gardening tools.
WHILE many Brits up and down the country are finding themselves with a lot of extra time on their hands, taming the garden is one of the most popular DIY activities people undertake to keep themselves busy (see pages 14 and 15).
But it’s not just in unusual times that people take to the garden. Gardening tools and equipment are a reliable staple of the industry for suppliers. “Even in uncertain times it can be a dependable market, owing to its seasonal nature and the annual tasks which must be carried out, whether that’s mowing the lawn, pruning or collecting leaves,” explained Clive Richardson, marketing director at Draper Tools.
Indeed, as the continued popularity of gardening tools and equipment shows, taking care of the natural world is a passion that is absolutely being passed on to the younger generations.
“You can’t ignore the prevalence of gardening in the mainstream media,” continued Clive. “Television programmes such as ITV’s Love Your Garden and the BBC’s Garden Rescue have helped to ensure the continuing popularity of gardening and having a well-maintained outside space.
“Much has also been reported on the trend for millennials taking up gardening too and it seems as though this is more than a passing phase. The therapeutic wellbeing qualities of gardening resonate with this generation as well as the environmental and sustainability aspect through growing your own produce.”
New developments As in so many other tool sectors, landscape and gardening tools are really seeing a big push in battery powered kit.
“As an industry we are seeing some big movement away from the traditional petrol engine machines and towards cordless,” said Mark Earles, business development manager for garden machinery at Makita. “Battery technology is getting better and machine performance has increased with the introduction of brushless motors.”
Fittingly for a community of nature lovers, sustainability and ecological concerns are another big trend influencing the market.
“Consumers expect responsibly sourced products, without compromising on the design and product features,” added Clive. “The new Draper Heritage range of garden hand tools is a great example of this. Manufactured using modern materials, this
collection combines the skills of the past with traditional values and a strong design that will appeal to the discerning gardener.
“And, importantly, all the timber used in the Draper Heritage range is sourced from sustainable and responsibly managed forests or plantations, so consumers can be confident they’re choosing tools that respect and protect the environment. We are also working to greatly reduce the plastic packaging used in all our garden tools lines.
“While this is work in progress and will take a time to feed through, it is something we are actively prioritising.”
Home pride With people taking so much care in the garden spaces, it is only natural that keen gardeners will be looking for the best equipment, meaning there is a significant trickle-down from the industrial market to the domestic one.
“We see ourselves at the upper end of the domestic market and more in the professional side,” said Mark. “You’re seeing more professional, quality cordless machines going to upper end domestic customers - I think this is mainly because it’s fit for purpose and generally not too expensive.”
Battery technology is getting better and machine performance has increased with the introduction of brushless motors.”
Draper 180L Compost Tumbler 25
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