Frances Hilary

Frances Hilary specialises in horticultural gifts by post but these are not any old gifts. Christmas present shopping can all but be wrapped up on this one stop site if you have garden lovers in your midst. It is simply wonderful.

The co-founders, who share a passion for gardening, go to great lengths to source and design superb products that are made of the finest raw materials. Products are often made to Frances Hilary's own specifications. And, if that wasn't enough, the company ploughs back ten per cent of the profits into carefully chosen horticultural charities.

Recently the owners have updated their website and the hot news is that they can now take international orders online. They have also split their wonderful catalogue into the following categories: Preparing to Plant , In the Garden , Classic Tools and Garden Attire . There are further categories for Childrens Gardening as well as for their Gift Sets and a special offer each month.

The tempting must begin and we list some of our favourites, which take you from the potting shed at the start of the day to a long soak in the bath at its close. The leather gauntlets, hats and aprons will see an emergence of look a like Vita Sackville-Wests countrywide. These are must have items for the lady gardener of the house. Put up an apple house where birds can feed or encourage children to garden with growing buckets (green beans, tomatoes and strawberries) and cress heads. Trugs and tools, toasting forks, chestnut roasters, herb dryers, paper potters to make biodegradable seed pots from newspapers, pegs and twine all make for an inspirational online shop.

And the good news is that Frances Hilary has recently opened a shop in York.