THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Need a gift for someone and they are just so difficult to buy for?
We all have a family member, friend or colleague like it – they give you no clues as to what they might like, no ideas for what they might need and appreciate, no signs for something that might just make them smile come Christmas.
They are, all in all, a difficult one to buy for.
This is where Modern Mint can come in and help you.
Gifts for Difficult People – wildlife/outdoorsy types
If they love nature and being outside, we definitely have ideas to help you here.
A small budget (around £5) can get you an eco-friendly bird feeder. This bird feeder is made from recycled plastic pots here in the UK, which means less plastic going to landfill. The product itself is sturdy and, though the photograph on the box suggests threading an apple onto the feeder, we like to think you will be more imaginative than that – try cheese, blueberries or even a Christmas Pudding – perhaps one you just don’t have the room to eat this festive season?
See the Eco Bird Feeder now.

(If you have pots to recycle, check here to see if a nursery or garden centre near you will take them.)
Seedballs – in different varieties – also cover the difficult Secret Santa / Stocking Filler / Small Budget yet a Decent Present area we have to work in.
Could this product help you with your difficult person to buy for?
Other Outdoorsy Gifts
Another recycled product we love is our gardening hat from Brazil.

But it could also be used for dog walking. As could our dog whistles, hand made here in the UK from off cuts of off cuts from forestry work.

Not only do they look amazing, they give a merry toot when blown to grab your hound’s attention.
Though we are aware it won’t work for every dog… (aka the Famous Fenton!)
Gifts for the Garden Lover
Here are unique and excellent presents for people who love their gardens. The first is the secateur and whetstone gift set.

These Japanese secateurs are amazing quality. The steel is so good and stays sharp a long time – then with the soft grit of this whetstone, it can be sharpened again to become factor quality keen all over again. This will be a very appreciated present…
As will our shears gift set.

Or our copper and bronze tools, hardworking and well-shaped trowels and hoes for proper gardeners. Not just pretty to look at, these fit beautifully in the hand and are sharp, so slice far more easily into the soil….

See all of our bronze tools.
Keep Warm & Well – Gifts for Those Who Need It!
Warm feet and moisturised hands. This is what you need if you are an outdoorsy type. These two gift sets should help you out of a tight spot, when you just don’t know what else a difficult person will appreciate…
Gardener’s Hand Cream Gift Set.


Need a Gift For Someone Who Likes A Night In?
You can’t go wrong with an embroidery kit, UK designed and made – you even get to practise on the bag before you start the actual design… how clever is that?
Or if they are something of a book worm, then we have these fantastic books by the earth friendly gardener – Digging Deep is pointed and, well, deep… while Eco Garden is inspiring!
Gifts for those who Like Beautiful Designs & Objects
Then it must be our Eco Clocks…

… and laptop brushes we present you with.

The Final Gift for Difficult People
Is our range for children. This starts with skipping ropes…
… but ends with catapults. A gift for the big kids out there.

Buy a catapult – or just enjoy a browse.
Start of the Whitby Topiary Library
I have been offered a space here in the centre of Whitby, south-facing aspect, with some raised beds in, so that I can make a Topiary Library. In my head, a topiary library is a place to showcase the common (and then not so common) shapes you can make out of topiary. With classical topiary plants, as well as some more unusual pieces. This Topiary Library can act as a reference for people to learn more about pruning and clipping. The space is small but the aspect is great and the beds are deep enough to put some plants in. …
Delivery After Dark – From the Makers of The Amelia Project
Last week I spent most nights stood in cold water streams on the moors of North Yorkshire, helping to film a new project called Delivery After Dark from the makers of the Amelia Project. I worked on the Amelia Project back at the end of 2024, lending my terrible vocal talents to a small part in the episode Didius Julianus. But this project is something new – and exciting! – and thankfully only needed me to be filmed, rather than to actually say anything. But not only did I have to stand in cold moving water at midnight, I also …
Modern Topiary (The Book) – Message From Lady Clippers, And Others!
My topiary book – Modern Topiary – has recently been put out as a PDF, which can be read for free. (Have a look here to download and read/share it!) Then last week I received a lovely email from Ann Perkowski of Lady Clippers, who are topiary and pruning specialists in New York (Ann is a brilliant pruning teacher too, who teaches at New York Botanical Garden… check out her work and Lady Clippers website.) Hi Darren, I had to write you how much I love reading your Modern Topiary. I’m not sure I’ll ever be quite done with it because I’m …
