Small English digging fork with Burgon & Ball handle - RHS Range

This Burgon & Ball traditional English digging fork, smaller, lighter, and more manageable than the classic model, is perfect for working all types of soil in tight spaces or between plants, or for gardeners who prefer a lighter tool. However, it is extremely resistant, tested to a breaking strain (weight supported before the handle breaks) of 90 kg, much higher than the British standard of 55 kg. Made of certified FSC* hardwood, the handle has a comfortable "Y" grip, double riveted at the base for added strength. The socket that grips the handle is extra long and fixed with two rivets, providing strength and flexibility to this key joint of the tool. The stainless steel tines are highly resistant to rust and slide easily into the soil. They are rolled for exceptional solidity and bending resistance.

* FSC is an international ecolabel guaranteeing that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests.

Dimensions of the spade head: 23 x 14 - Length of the handle: 75 cm (30in)

The English have the privilege of being the reference in gardening (if not in cooking). Promesses de fleurs has chosen the English company Burgon & Ball for the quality of its materials and its almost three-century-old steel manufacturing methods. The company has been working with steel in Sheffield since 1730, starting with a patent for solid steel sheep shears. The production of garden shears and equipment quickly surpassed that of sheep shears, but the stainless steel tools from Burgon & Ball are officially approved by the Royal Horticultural Society - probably the ultimate reward in the gardening industry.

The tines of this fork are hot rolled, a process that aligns the grain structure of the metal to provide exceptional bending resistance. Hot rolled tines are very unusual in the production of stainless steel tools - the standard is simply to cut the tines to length, weld them together, and grind the ends to a point. Choosing this more expensive manufacturing process is an additional quality criterion.

The heat treatment allows the steel to have exactly the right hardness for each tool. If it is too hard, the metal can break or chip; if it is not hard enough, it will bend or lose its sharpness. The thickness of the steel used is also dependent on the tool. This small fork requires a thicker steel than a knife, which can be much thinner steel. The thickness of the steel affects the weight, so it is also a balance to be found, which the company Burgon & Ball, with its soon-to-be 300 years of experience, has validated to ensure that its tools are both effective and enjoyable to use.