Job Title: Sole Gardener (Live-out)
Location: Cheshire
Salary: Up to £35,000 DOE

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a knowledgeable Sole Gardener with a passion for naturalistic gardening and an in-depth understanding of plants. This role offers the chance to take ownership of a stunning, historic, 3-acre private garden near Tarporley, Cheshire.

Originally designed by Edward Kemp in 1860—a leading Victorian landscape architect—the gardens feature in his influential 1863 publication, How to Layout a Garden. In 2023, a renowned landscape architect was commissioned to sympathetically restore the garden’s original layout while embracing a naturalistic planting style inspired by The Sheffield School’s principles of sustainable planting.

The Garden

The grounds are divided into distinct areas, including:

• A formal sunken garden, rose garden, orchard, and glasshouse.
• A naturalistic flowering meadow and a large pond with woodland walkways.
• A walled potager garden, supplying the main house with fresh, organic produce, such as seasonal vegetables and soft fruits.
• Mixed perennial borders, topiary, yew hedging, and a planned wildflower meadow (scheduled for planting in Autumn).
• A new 1-acre pond and woodland area under development.

This is a unique opportunity for a creative and energetic plants person to shape the garden’s future while honouring its historic legacy. The successful candidate will contribute to the creation of undeveloped areas, allowing them to demonstrate their talent and creativity.

There will also be opportunities to establish a small greenhouse for propagation and growing plants from seeds and cuttings.

Key Responsibilities

The Sole Gardener will manage all aspects of garden care and ornamental horticulture, including but not limited to:

• Planting, maintenance, and seasonal pruning (species-specific).
• Kitchen gardening and propagation.
• Lawn care, machinery operation, and basic maintenance.
• Ornamental and topiary care, as well as ongoing development of the garden.
• Managing contractors and ensuring the security of the property when the owners are away.
• Supporting wider estate tasks, including pathway clearance, fence maintenance, and assisting with events or functions.
• Preparing firewood, felling / pruning trees, and other ad hoc estate-related duties.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised horticultural qualification and have experience at Skilled/Sole/Senior level.
• Demonstrate exceptional knowledge of garden care, time management, and attention to detail.
• Be trustworthy, self-motivated, and passionate about working collaboratively with the owners to restore and enrich this historic garden.
• Have excellent plant knowledge, with an appreciation for naturalistic gardening styles.

This is a full-time, permanent role based on a 40-hour week (Monday to Friday) with working hours varying seasonally. The position includes 28 days of holiday per annum (inclusive of public Bank Holidays).

Please note: The successful candidate will be subject to reference checks and a DBS check.

SALARY: Up to £35,000 depending on experience.

LOCATION:  Nr Tarporley, Cheshire

CONTACT: Sally Harris.   sally@harrishomes.co.uk 07930 322566

This private advert is being managed directly by the employer. English Country Gardeners are not involved in the hiring process and are therefore unable to share any additional information on this role. If you have any questions regarding this position, the best course of action is to apply for the job which will open a line of communication with the employer.

If you would like to view more information on the Professional Gardeners Guild, please click here and the Royal Horticultural Society, please click here

If you would like more information regarding horticultural qualifications and colleges, please see our Career advice.

For more gardener roles please click here

Tagged as: cheshire, Sole Gardener