Derek's Key Areas of Expertise
Informational Articles
Derek's Backstory & Experience
Nature has always been a big part of my life. I was born and raised on a rural farm in North East Scotland. Milking cows, caring for sheep, herding reindeer, working the land – farming is in my blood, and my love of the great outdoors has influenced many of the decisions that I’ve made in my life.
22 years ago, this led me to landscape gardening, where I discovered a new passion. Being able to work in so many different environments, and with so many fascinating people, means that every job is an exciting one.
The only downside? I was spending all of my time in gardens and farms that belonged to other people, with nowhere to call my own. But all of that hard work paid off, allowing me to buy a 25-acre farm in a beautiful corner of Aberdeenshire. My focus now is on creating a landscape that can feed and support me. A life where I’m self-sufficient in meat, dairy, and vegetables, but in a way that works with nature, rather than against it. This is the point at which everything that I’ve learnt over the years comes together, enabling me to build a better future than I ever imagined possible.
Derek Has Written These Product Reviews
Best Car Pressure Washers
Cordless Leaf Blowers
Steep Slope Lawn Mowers
Lawn Scarifiers
Log Splitters
Mulching Lawn Mowers
Petrol Chainsaws
Best Petrol Lawn Mowers
Pole Saws
Best Pressure Washers
Pressure Washer Under ÂŁ100
Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
Telescopic Pole Hedge Trimmers
Water Butts
Wet and Dry Vacuum
Cordless Lawn Mowers
Lawn Mowers For Large Gardens
Robot Lawn Mowers
Dereks Has Tested These Products
Lawn Scarifiers
AL-KO Combi Care 38E Electric Scarifier Review
Bosch UniversalRake 900 Review
Einhell GC-SA 1231 Electric Scarifier Review
Hyundai 2-in-1 Lawn Scarifier Review
VonHaus 2-in-1 Lawn Scarifier Review
Composting
Blackwall Compost Bin Review
Easipet Wooden Compost Bin Review
Garden Point Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter Bin Review
GR8 Garden Metal Wire Mesh Compost Bin Review
Strimmers
Leaf Blowers
Bosch ALB 36 LI Cordless Leaf Blower Review
Makita DUB185Z Cordless Blower Review
Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Blower Review
Garden Shredders
Lawn Mowers
Bosch Cordless Lawnmower CityMower Review
Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower Review
Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower Review
Hyundai HYM510SP 4-Stroke Petrol Lawn Mower Review
LawnMaster 24V 34cm Cordless Lawnmower Review
LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower Review
Murray Lithium-Ion IQ18WM44 Cordless Lawn Mower Review
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Lawn Mower Review
Webb Classic WER410SP Self Propelled Petrol Mower Review
WORX Landroid S WR130E Robot Lawn Mower Review
Pressure Washers
Bosch EasyAquatak 120 High-Pressure Washer Review
Kärcher K2 Power Control High-Pressure Washer Review
Kärcher K5 Pressure Washer Review
Kärcher K7 Pressure Washer Review
VonHaus 1600W Pressure Washer Review
Hedge Trimmers
Einhell GC-HH 9048 Electric Long Reach Hedge Trimmer Review
Greenworks G40PSHK2 Cordless 2-in-1 Pole Hedge Trimmer Review
Kärcher 18V Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer Review
VonHaus Cordless Telescopic Hedge Trimmer Review
Worx WG252E.9 18V Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer Review
Chainsaws
Einhell GC-PC 2040 Petrol Chainsaw Review
Husqvarna HUSQ120-14 Petrol Chainsaw Review
Hyundai Petrol Chainsaw Review
P1PE 62cc Petrol Chainsaw Review
ParkerBrand 62CC Petrol Chainsaw Review
Log Splitters
Forest Master Electric Hydraulic FM5 Log Splitter Review
Forest Master USBB Firewood Kindling Log Splitter Review
Kindling Cracker Firewood Kindling Splitter Review
Rolson Wood Grenade Log Splitter Review
Swedish Log Splitter Review
Cleaning
Garden Tools
ProPlugger 5-in-1 Bulb Planting Tool
Spear & Jackson Traditional Long Handle Bulb Planter
Kent & Stowe Traditional Long Handled Bulb Planter
Syitcun Garden Auger Drill Bit
Ryobi RPP750S Pole Pruner
Saws
Bosch Cordless Pruner UniversalChainPole 18
Black + Decker PS7525-GB Corded Pole Saw
Ryobi RPP750S Pole Pruner with Extension Pole
Hyundai 52cc Petrol Long Reach Pole Pruner
eSkde LPCS1 Telescopic Long Reach Pole Chainsaw