An exciting opportunity has arisen for a practical and hands-on Assistant Gardener to join a private estate near Burford. The estate extends to around 36 acres, with 4–5 acres of established formal gardens, alongside wider grounds and a newly planted woodland area. The gardens are maintained to a high standard and include a Japanese garden, lawns, gravel areas, hedging, shrubs, fruit trees and a variety of beautiful, landscaped areas.

The formal gardens require regular, year-round maintenance and the role will involve maintaining lawns, hedges, shrubs, borders, gravel areas, paths and other landscaped areas, while supporting the Head Gardener with seasonal horticultural work. You will be involved in weeding, planting, pruning, topiary clipping and general shrub maintenance, as well as maintaining the Japanese garden and pruning the estate’s fruit trees.

Working closely with both the Estate Manager, this is a varied position for someone who enjoys being involved across all areas of a private estate. Gardening and horticulture will form an important part of the role, but the successful candidate will also need to be practical and happy to get involved with the wider grounds and general estate maintenance.

Alongside the established gardens, the estate has a newly planted woodland, established last year. This provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to take increasing responsibility for its development and ongoing maintenance, including keeping woodland paths and surrounding areas clear, maintaining the young planting and carrying out appropriate seasonal work.

The position is genuinely varied, and you will be expected to turn your hand to whatever is required across the estate. Alongside the horticultural work, duties will include hedge cutting, strimming, pedestrian and ride-on mowing, leaf clearance, sweeping paths and driveways, raking and maintaining gravel areas, and keeping patios, hard surfaces, drives and other amenity areas to a high standard.

You will also work alongside the Estate Manager to ensure the wider grounds are kept tidy, safe and well maintained. The role includes weekly swimming pool checks and basic maintenance, as well as other practical estate tasks that arise throughout the year, including seasonal jobs such as bringing patio furniture in and out.

The successful candidate will be a practical, hardworking and adaptable individual who takes pride in their work and maintaining high standards. Previous experience within a private garden, estate, grounds maintenance or similar horticultural environment would be beneficial, but attitude, reliability and practical ability are equally important.

Chainsaw or other machinery qualifications are not essential, as specialist contractors are currently used where required. However, any additional machinery experience or relevant certificates would be welcomed.

This is a full-time position working Monday to Friday or may also suit a candidate preferring a 4 day per week role. The role offers an excellent opportunity for a gardener or grounds person looking for a varied role within a private estate. The position provides the chance to work across established formal gardens, wider estate grounds and newly planted woodland, while developing your horticultural and practical skills and taking on greater responsibility over time.

SALARY: Circa £33,000 DOE

LOCATION: Oxfordshire

JOB No: EC76040

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to everyone. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application will have been unsuccessful.

 If this Assistant Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply below,  call Jay Rimell on 01233 733510 or email info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

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We are proud to work with:

• the Professional Gardeners’ Guild
• the RHS
• the WFGA – offering the WRAGs Scheme
• Arne Maynard Garden Design
• Historic Houses
• the HBG Training Programme

Tagged as: Assistant Gardener, Oxfordshire, private estate, Private Estate Gardener