A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced sole gardener to maintain a beautifully established garden in a rural area between Marlborough and Newbury.  

Situated on a large farming, high bird and pheasant shooting estate, the 10 acres of well-manicured formal garden consists of mature trees, native woodlands, ornamental parterres, azaleas and rhododendron borders, manicured lawns with shrub beds and borders, a walled garden with herbaceous borders, a large greenhouse, an ornamental lake, fountain and hard landscaped areas.  

The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall maintenance of the gardens to a high standard as well as working closely with the owners on minor development projects. He / She should be organised, able to plan and prioritise work load, trustworthy and excellent at time keeping. Applicants must be physically fit, non-smoker and dog friendly as walking the owners two Labrador dogs is part of the role. He / She should be willing to work on their own initiative and as part of the Estate team to collaborate on ensuring the security of the property at all times. A key responsibility of the role also includes handyman duties of which applicants should have previous experience with general basic maintenance jobs such as painting and repair work. 

The successful candidate will have good horticultural knowledge and plant identification skills, a good understanding of pest and disease control and will be confident with planting methods, pruning, and general garden maintenance. A level 2 horticultural qualification is required as a minimum as well as at least 5 years of recent experience working on a private estate. A chainsaw certificate and spraying certificate (PA1/PA6) is required for the role, however, training can be arranged by the employer as long as the candidate is willing to acquire. A full clean driving licence is essential as some driving duties will be expected.

A three-bedroom cottage is available for the successful candidate. Partners, children and well-behaved pets are welcome. The occupant will be charged a £5.00 per week rent and would be responsible for their own bills including council tax. Holiday entitlement is 28 days holiday including bank holidays.