We all need a good pair of snips, ones that can live in pockets without doing any harm, and wander round the garden with us for those unplanned moments - and these ones are great. Handy to have a couple of pairs really, as they are absolutely brilliant for flowers, fruit and veg, but aren’t nearly as tough as secateurs, obviously, and are for green growth only, not woody pruning. Slender blades get right in for careful snipping, red white handles show up when you (almost inevitably) leave them lying around somewhere.

Niwaki means garden tree. Not very exciting, but it implies far more than that. Japanese gardens are landscapes, microcosms of nature, and the trees are all shaped to fit into those landscapes. In 1997, Niwaki's founder Jake went to Japan as a wannabe sculptor, to investigate the cultural phenomenon of the cherry blossom season, Hanami. There he discovered the gardens, the trees and later, how fabulous their tools are.

Most Niwaki sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they will, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge.

Correct Use:

• Keep them clean, with a Crean Mate ideally, or an old washing up sponge if you’re desperate
• Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
• Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
• Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
• Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
• Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
• Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

Please note: By law, we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18. By placing an order for one of these items you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over. These items must be used responsibly and appropriately.