In praise of Bradleys

For Christmas 2020 my son gave me a razor sharp Japanese pair of secateurs, with holster…..

…and – a pair of Bradleys’ leather gardening gauntlets….

Aren’t they just beautiful. That soft white leather for the hands, warmly and cosily lined, yet fitting closely enough to do quite delicate gardening jobs. Those heavy duty long arms, tough enough to withstand the most vicious of brambles. What a present. And have they been used…..

First they tackled a 3 foot deep 30 year old wall of ivy which ran right round my new garden, then they got going on the invading brambles, the green alkanet, the rampant dandelions and spreading marigold. Then I joined Heath Hands and a whole new series of challenges faced them. An ongoing and constant battle with Hampstead Heath’s brambles which would win gold medals for size and prickliness, taming the runaway holly in Highgate Woods, mattocking out the proliferating saplings wishing to take over the meadow spaces, pruning back the hedges around the Orchard Garden, planting willow saplings to block access to wildlife areas, digging ditches to enable the free flow of excess water. You name it, they have done it. But it has it has taken its toll.

Unwilling to give in, I bought leather pieces on the internet to mend their fingers but, as you can see, my stitching was not strong enough and they are peeling off.  So finally I gave in an ordered a new pair – the ones you can see above. But of course they are far too beautiful to actually use! Especially on a morning like this morning when it was tipping down with rain and we were mattocking out the brambles which were vigorously encroaching on the gorse on East Heath.

So out came the old ones obviously determined not to be retired just yet. Despite their flapping patches and the three tears in the left forefinger which had not been patched, they hauled brambles for two hours in the pouring rain and, although we were all (gloves and I) soaked at the end of it, not a single bramble had penetrated as far as my hands. So out will come those patches again and some tougher thread. And until the weather improves, I suspect that the new gloves will remain secure in the gardening bag saving their pristine whiteness for more clement conditions.

These are the only Bradley’s gloves I have although they have a fine collection of other gloves as well as aprons, bags, hats, kneelers and more – all made in their traditional tannery in Shropshire – once the home of a significant tanning trade. (You can also watch an interesting short video about tanning and their history on their site.)  Argh – and I just notice that they also sell leather offcuts which would be far better for mending my gloves than what I got……

Meanwhile if anyone is looking for gardening Christmas presents…… Head straight over Bradleys of Shropshire!! You will be the most popular Christmas Gift giver out!

NB. Compared to High Street gloves, Bradley gauntlets are not cheap at £40 but……. They are totally worth the money in terms of comfort, and efficiency. Over 3 years, gardening 3 days a week and for 3 hours each day – that works out at just over 2.5p per gardening hour!! A bargain. And they aren’t finished yet!