Trug Makers

General information

In a recent nationwide survey the Sussex trug was voted the fifth most essential gardening accessory. A truly very appreciated gift by all gardeners, even if they already own one. There are of course other options available - multicoloured plastic trugs - buckets, poor quality foreign replica imports etc etc.

All trugs are hand made by myself and in 1970 while working for another company, I designed 'the harlequin' trug. This was submitted to the British Design Centre by the managing Director and subsequently awarded the Standard kite mark for design excellence. In June (2011) my trugs were chosen as 'best-for-style' in the very popular Grown-Your-Own magazine.

I work alone with the exception of my wife Jaqui PhD (packaging and handling department) and sign and date every trug on the base. Thanks to Jaqui, we offer very rapid delivery, if a trug is ordered before 10:30 A.M. you will receive it the next day via Fed-Ex, so if it's a last minute present, just ring us. Jaqui can also include a personal message on a card if you wish (no charge).

'If ' you can find hand made Sussex trugs cheaper than mine, I'll polish your car with a cotton bud! The reason? My overheads are very low, no office staff, no company car (I don't drive) and fed only once per day. Last year while attending a woodcraft fair, a nearby maker, after (I assume) examining my prices cleared his stock and went home!

There are foreign imports available from garden centres that are what they are and usually higher priced than my trugs! I also offer a lifetime guarantee, an unlikely event with imported wanabees? Should you, for whatever reason, need to return a trug, no problem, a full refund will be given upon receipt of the trug. It did happen, but only once, a gentleman bought it for his wife who left him for their gardener. He obviously already had a trug! Lesson to be learned - buy now before it's too late!

My trugs come in four sizes 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 (see the individual trug description for Dimensions and capacity).

The optional 'Harlequin' design was introduced to broaden the application of a trug whilst still retaining its usual application. The Harlequin makes a wonderful home display accessory for fruit, dried flowers, pot-pourri container etc. Also popular commercialy by businesses such as bakeries, wine shops, florists, pubs and restaraunts etc.for window and shop displays.
The 'Daffodil' trug is basically a number 8 trug but with a greatly reduced depth (see trug description for reason).

Trugs I made many years ago are now being sold at Antiques and collectors fairs, one on eBay recently sold for £60. At the famous Ardingly Antiques Fair I discovered one of my very early trugs for sale and introduced myself as the original maker to the seller. He requested that I sign and date the trug (good idea I thought) so, from then on, all my trugs were signed and dated on the bottom board.