GardenCraft
Who We Are
GardenCraft UK was started in 2020 by Tom Wheatley, a gardener based in East Riding who had been managing a 1,200m² market garden plot for eight years. Tom found that mainstream garden equipment reviews consistently tested machinery in conditions that bore no resemblance to a working British garden in autumn or winter.
The team has since grown to include Sarah Kenworthy (composting and soil health, former RHS Harlow Carr staff member) and James Okello (water management and irrigation, BSc Environmental Science, University of Leeds).
Our Test Gardens
- East Riding, Yorkshire: 120m² domestic lawn and 60m² vegetable plot on clay loam soil.
- Brecon Beacons, Wales: 200m² sloped garden on thin topsoil over bedrock. Annual rainfall approximately 1,600mm.
- Bristol, South West England: 70m² urban garden on compacted sandy clay.
How We Test
Every piece of equipment we review is tested for a minimum of one full season. We purchase most equipment at retail, occasionally borrowing from manufacturers with no conditions on editorial content. We have never accepted payment for a review, and we do not participate in affiliate marketing programmes.
What We Reference
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — soil classification, planting guidance, lawn care standards
- UK Environment Agency — water abstraction rules, hosepipe legislation
- WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) — composting standards
- Met Office UK — climate data referenced in seasonal guides
Independence and Funding
GardenCraft UK is funded entirely through reader support. There are no banner advertisements, no affiliate links and no sponsored content.
Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust
We name our authors, state when articles were last updated, cite authoritative external sources, and disclose our testing methodology. If you spot an error, please contact us.