Skilled Gardener required

Stair Estates is a diversified rural estate in southwest Scotland with a varied let property portfolio; in-hand farming, forestry, tourism and country sports enterprises.

The Estate includes of a number of horticultural areas such as the renowned historic landscaped Castle Kennedy Gardens, the gardens at Lochinch Castle, both of which are open to the public and contain a well known collection of plants, as well as the wider Estate policies

Reporting to the Head Gardener, this position will work as part of a small team of committed gardeners, with the responsibility for the development and maintenance of all the gardens at Stair Estates.

The Gardener will work 5 days per week as part of the Gardens staff under the direction of the Head Gardener to ensure the efficient running of Castle Kennedy Gardens consistent with its status as a 4* Visitor Attraction, as well as in the private gardens of the Earl and Countess of Stair at Lochinch Castle.

The position is full time with normal working hours from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday.  Additional hours will be required at weekends and the Gardener is expected to participate in weekend greenhouse checking and watering and rotas at the appropriate times of year and as necessitated by the needs of the garden.

Salary relevant to experience and qualifications.  Accommodation is also available if required.

Key Activities

• Undertake maintenance throughout the gardens to trees, shrubs, herbaceous borders, annual borders, hedges and lawns
• Prune trees, shrubs and climbers & cut hedges using ladders or powered platforms
• Take responsibility for specific specialist garden features and areas as agreed with the Head Gardener
• Undertake the proper care for a wide range of plants all plants including planting, division, cultivation, propagation, weeding, and mulching, feeding, watering, pruning, tying-in, staking and dead heading
• To use and maintain tools and machinery including brush cutters, pedestrian and ride on mowers, rotavators, tractors and trailers
• Assist in the maintenance of the gardens infrastructure
• Provide an approachable, polite and friendly point of contact on site for the public
• Develop own skills and knowledge in a way that supports improvement in the quality of Castle Kennedy Gardens
• Embrace new projects and schemes and assist in their implementation
• Undertake any other duties, as requested by your Employers, commensurate with aims of the business and within your ability and training
• Assist in the maintenance of the garden infrastructure
• Develop a plant database to record all plant collections
• This position will be provided with a uniform which must be clean and tidy at all times. General appearance should be neat and smart at all times. Long hair should be either worn under a hat or tied back. The Factor’s opinion is final on questions of appearance

Experience

• Experience of working in gardens and public parks
• Sound experience of tractor mounted and pedestrian operated horticultural machinery
• Good gardening experience
• Some silvicultural experience
• Able to work effectively alone and in a team
• Able to demonstrate good health and safety awareness

Please note it is not expected that candidates will necessarily have skills and experience in all the areas detailed, and this list will be used as a guide to assess suitability for the post.

Knowlege & Training

• Practical experience and M-Hort or equivalent
• Comprehensive plant knowledge including the cultivation and planting of shrubs, flowering plants, hedges and lawns
• A keen interest in gardens and historic landscapes
• Specialist knowledge and appreciation of rhododendrons and azeleas will be an advantage
• Familiarity with general horticultural principles and plant husbandry
• Good understanding of Health and Safety issues
• An understanding of team dynamics and productivity
• Broad knowledge and experience of operating and maintaining garden machinery mowers and strimmers. Some or all of the following  technical certificates:
• NPTC CS30 & CS31 in chainsaw operation
• NPTC or equivalent in brushcutter/strimmer operation
• NPTC or equivalent in handheld sprayers – PA1 & PA6

Skills

• Good organisational skills, with the ability to organise workload of self and others effectively
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to solve problems and work under own initiative
• Ability to work co-operatively as part of a team

Personal Qualities

• Positive, pro-activite and can-do approach to work
• Well motivated with an eye for detail and a desire to achieve a high standards
• A willingness to work alongside and to support other staff and volunteers
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Be physically fit, and hold a full driving licence
• Work well in a team as well as independently
• Ability to maintain high levels of enthusiasm
• Positive and friendly approach
• Tact and diplomacy

This Skilled Gardener 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 Skilled Gardener 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

For more gardener roles please click here