Retirement gift ideas

A closer look: Rather than being read cover to cover, it tends to come off the shelf for a quick check before a job: when to sow, how to plant, what to do with a tricky corner. A thoughtful choice for someone taking on their first garden, and slipping in a packet of seeds makes it feel like the start of a project.

Why we picked it: From the Royal Horticultural Society, a proper reference covering planning, sowing, planting and growing, for beginners and experts alike.

• Hardback
• Covers the whole garden
• Lots of photos
• Good for beginners and experts

What owners say: Really informative and easy to navigate, with lots of great photos.

A closer look: Left-handed gardeners can use them as easily as right-handers, which isn’t true of every pair. A quick wipe of the blades after pruning helps the non-stick coating keep sap from building up, and at around 230g they’re light enough to carry in a pocket through a whole afternoon of deadheading.

Why we picked it: Japanese SK5 steel blades that slice through stems up to 25mm cleanly, which keeps plants healthier than a crushing cut.

• Japanese SK5 steel
• Cuts up to 25mm
• Lightweight aluminium handles
• Squeeze-to-release lock

What owners say: Extremely sharp and comfortable. Owners say they go through thick stems like a knife through butter.

A closer look: Long best-before dates mean it can be bought well ahead and tucked away until the day, and the tartan sleeve saves any wrapping. Add a favourite mug for a fuller present, or take it along when visiting so the kettle can go on and the box can be opened together.

Why we picked it: Edinburgh tea, Scottish shortbread and Walkers biscuits, gift-boxed for two. Ready-made for a cuppa and a catch-up.

• Brodies Edinburgh tea
• Scottish shortbread
• Walkers biscuits
• Gift boxed for two

What owners say: A nice selection, lovely tea and very good value. The Walkers biscuits are a hit.

A closer look: Despite the heavy leather, the shaped thumb and fingers leave enough feel to grip loppers or tie in a climbing rose. After a wet session, let them dry slowly at room temperature rather than on a radiator, which keeps the cowhide supple. When buying as a gift, a snug size gives better control than a roomy one.

Why we picked it: Elbow-length cowhide that laughs at roses, brambles and nettles. The only gloves to reach for when pruning.

• Cowhide leather
• Elbow-length cuffs
• Thorn and nettle proof
• Men’s and women’s sizes

What owners say: They really do stop thorns, brambles and holly, and they last for years.

A closer look: Bulb planting is where it shines: push it in, rock it to open a slot, and read the depth off the blade, since most bulbs want about two to three times their own height of soil above them. The saw-toothed edge cuts through matted roots when dividing perennials, and the holster’s belt loop keeps it on the hip rather than lost in the border.

Why we picked it: From Spear & Jackson, making tools in Sheffield since 1760. The Japanese-style hori hori digs, weeds, cuts and measures planting depth.

• Stainless steel blade
• Straight and serrated edges
• Depth markings
• Holster included

What owners say: Well made and sturdy, and brilliant for digging out stubborn weeds.

A closer look: Setting it up before it’s wrapped makes the day easier: connect it to Wi-Fi, pair a few family phones through the Frameo app and send a first batch of pictures, so it greets them with familiar faces. At their house it then needs a plug nearby and their Wi-Fi details, and it can hang on the wall or stand on a sideboard.

Why we picked it: The family can send photos from their phones and they appear on the frame moments later, thanks to the popular Frameo app.

• 10.1-inch HD touchscreen
• Frameo app
• Photos and short videos
• Captions on photos

What owners say: Easy to set up and use, with a crisp screen. Owners love sending photos straight to the frame.

A closer look: Clean the glass well first and press the suction cups on firmly for the strongest hold. A window a few metres from a bush or hedge gives nervous birds somewhere to dart back to, and it can take a week or two before the first visitors trust it. Small seed or sunflower hearts suit the little birds it’s designed for.

Why we picked it: Sticks to the window so the birds come right up to the glass: a front-row seat to the garden from the armchair.

• Strong suction cups
• Removable seed tray
• Clear acrylic
• For small birds

What owners say: Sturdy and stays firmly on the window. One owner says it survived gale-force winds and attracts plenty of birds.

A closer look: Before wrapping, run the station scan and save their usual stations to the presets, so the first morning’s listening is one button away. The backlit display is easy to read in a dim kitchen, and the headphone socket lets a light sleeper listen late at night without waking anyone else in the house.

Why we picked it: Roberts has been making radios in Britain since 1932. The PLAY10 keeps it simple: big buttons, station presets and batteries for the garden.

• DAB, DAB+ and FM
• Station presets
• Mains or batteries
• Headphone socket

What owners say: Well designed, easy to set up and use, and it sounds good. Great in the kitchen or garden.

A closer look: Two screws hold the front panel, so switching between a hole-fronted box for blue tits and an open front for robins takes a screwdriver and a minute. Fix it a couple of metres up, facing somewhere between north and east to avoid strong sun, and give it a clean in autumn once the nesting season is over.

Why we picked it: The front panel comes off, so it works as a classic hole box for tits or open-fronted for robins.

• Wooden
• Removable front panel
• Suits tits, robins and sparrows
• Easy to mount

What owners say: Well made for the price, looks good and is easy to put up.

A closer look: The three-pouch tool bag fits on in both positions, so trowel, twine and hand pruners stay within reach at the border or on the seat while potting up seedlings. Once folded flat it tucks behind the shed door, and a wipe with a damp cloth sorts the foam out after a muddy session.

Why we picked it: Flip it one way to kneel and the other to sit: kinder on knees and backs, with handles to help her up again.

• Kneeler and seat in one
• Padded EVA foam
• Handles to help you up
• Detachable tool bag
• Folds flat

What owners say: Sturdy and easy to set up, and a real help for anyone with a bad back or knees.