[michellela]

I've decided that I should really get a pair of secateurs.  I've read that the Felco #8 is a good model and so I'm considering ordering them however I'm not sure if they're suitable for the wayward bramble/blackberry bushes that are on the short side of my plot.  Has anyone used them for this?  Would the woody bits be more than they could handle?

[arugula]

Lovely looking pair of secateurs those! For brambles you might be better off with a pair of ratchet style secateurs or even a cheaper pair of loppers for the less frequent clearance task and keep those for years of service.

[Aunt Sally]

I have some felco #8 and they are very good.  For heavy stuff I use some loppers though.

My loppers are cheap Wilkinsons ones, I've been using them for 4 years so far.

[michellela]

I might wait to get the secateurs as I'll be using them more once I have my plot full of growing things and get some cheap loppers as you've advised.  Thanks to you both.

[RichardA]

I reclaimed a neglected half acre orchard that I bought next to my own garden and that was full of brambles with my Felco 8's and with loppers. Loppers now rarely out of shed and Felco's rarely out of my pocket (note to self here -- secateurs in pockets is not a good idea -- get a holster).
My favourite tool of all. First I pick up when I go in the shed.
R

[8doubles]

Another useful tool if you cannot or do not want to get close to what you are pruning is a lidl telescopic long arm tree pruner, the one with the rope you pull to cut. At £5 or £6 they are excellent value for money, not in the same class as felco but for a low cost tool you use only occasionally they are VERY good.