Burgon & Ball RHS Endorsed Border Fork
Tested August 2024
As this is a border fork it’s smaller and lighter than a traditional digging fork (98cm overall length, 14cm wide, 1.46kg); it has a Y-shaped ash handle and stainless steel tines.
My first thoughts are that the fork looks and feels like a quality tool, the tines are a good thickness and feel strong, the handle is very smooth with double rivets at the base for extra strength, this fits into the double riveted strapped socket of the tines giving a breaking strain of 90kg. Border forks are generally used to lightly dig over the surface soil but it’s good to know that this one is capable of digging deep if needed.
I used this fork to dig through a mixed border between the plants and to prepare some planting holes; it was a joy to use. The tines had enough strength to turn the heavy clay mixed with chunks of limestone and gave a fine finish to the soil.
Conclusion: a small, strong and good quality tool which will last for many years if treated well. If I could change one thing it would be how the shaft and blade are joined, the rivets and blade protrude out from the wooden shaft; though this isn’t really a problem and doesn’t deter me from recommending it, I’d suggest wearing gloves to avoid chafing.
