A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Skilled Gardener/ Groundsperson to join a beautiful private Chateau located between Tours and Poitiers near the small town of Richelieu in France. 

This charming chateau is surrounded by a moat and 50 acres of land including a courtyard with climbers and a lush garden planted with roses, shrubs, mixed ornamental and herbaceous beds/borders, bulbs and perennials, woodland, a truffle orchard and a fruit orchard, an aquatic garden and a meadow.

The owners are looking for a skilled and passionate gardener to work closely with them in the planning and execution of new and exciting horticultural projects and who, in their absence, will take charge of the projects, progress them and show initiative as required. The property offers scope for further development gardening-wise and the projects currently include: the extension of existing borders and the creation of new ones, the creation of classical parterres as well as more informal areas of planting, building a lake with relevant planting and the creation of a wildflower meadow. 

In addition to the developments, the ideal candidate will be expected to take care of the maintenance and smooth running of the grounds, sharing the duties with the existing Gardener/Groundsman. They will be responsible for daily monitoring of the property, arranging  maintenance and repairs as necessary, managing all aspects of 24-hour security, arranging and receiving deliveries, amongst other duties.

He / She must be fluent and able to communicate on a daily basis in French – interviews will be conducted in French. The candidate sought will be of a mature disposition, able to deal with emergencies calmly, conscientious and willing to assume responsibility. They will have the ability to work alongside other staff and contractors and have the determination and drive to get a job done to a high standard. The ability to operate a range of garden machinery and good craft skills are also desirable for the role.

The successful candidate will have excellent plant identification skills, knowledge of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants and be fully conversant with planting methods, soil properties, pest control, pruning and cultivation. He / She will hold a horticultural qualification and a spraying certificate (PA1/ PA6) and chainsaw certificate would be an advantage however not essential. A driving licence is required for this position.

Accommodation is available for the successful applicant (and family if applicable).  Pets are also welcome. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for driven and hands-on Skilled Gardener /Groundsperson with enthusiasm for maintaining and enhancing the gardens of a beautiful Chateau in a rural and beautiful part of France.