Head Gardener
Are you a passionate and experienced Head Gardener looking for a new and interesting opportunity? The vacancy is full time and permanent and the Head Gardener will be hands on in managing and maintaining the spectacular gardens based South of Oxford.
The Grade II listed family home sits centre stage, with the surrounding gardens originally designed and implemented over 30 years ago with great attention to detail in the visual sight lines that lead the eye through each aspect of the garden. The owners are looking to work in partnership with the experienced gardener to continue to maintain the garden to a high standard and enhance further.
The different garden ‘rooms’ are divided into three equal areas. The formal garden consists of a productive kitchen garden to grow an abundance of fruit and vegetables throughout the year, two greenhouses used for growing and propagation, nine box edged beds froth with lavender and Russian sage, various borders and planted areas to flower throughout all seasons, and some to attract insect life. The orchard is both productive and decorative boasting old varieties of apples, pears, damsons and cherry trees. Just beyond and screening the tennis court is a pergola covered in roses, wisteria and grapevines. The meadow leads down to the woodland where paths are mown through and is abundant with snowdrops. The large lake, with its two islands, has trout and is favoured by egrets, coots, moorhens, mallard ducks and a resident kingfisher.
The successful candidate will be confident and enjoy working in a sole position for the majority of the time as well as managing a gardener who comes in one day per week, a volunteer one day per week and contractors as and when required e.g., hedge cutting and tree surgery. Applicants will be plantspeople with strong horticultural knowledge and a passionate for all things gardening. A horticultural qualification and/or extensive experience working on a diverse garden is required for the role. The gardens are fully organic and therefore experience with organic practices and sustainability would be advantageous as well a chainsaw certificate would be desirable but not essential. Experience with specialist pruning such as fruits trees, wisteria and rose pruning is required for the role.
A two-bedroom cottage can be available for the successful candidate if required and a competitive salary of £40,000 – £45,000 is provided depending on if accommodation is needed. Partners, children or pets are welcome.
SALARY: £35,000 – £45,000 depending on if accommodation is required
LOCATION: South of Oxford
JOB No: EC58806
If this Head Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sophie Sharpe on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk
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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Head Gardener vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this Head Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.
