Gardener vacancy

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated Gardener to join the gardens team of a significant private estate in West Dorset.

The Estate has been in the same family ownership since the 1500’s, with parts of the historic Grade I listed mansion house dating back to that time. Surrounding the principal house is 50 acres of both formal and informal gardens, together with lakes,  parkland, mature trees and managed paddocks beyond.

The formal gardens include ornamental bedding, borders for cut flowers, hedges and lawns, two glasshouses, a very productive walled vegetable garden, a swimming pool, an orchard and mature trees throughout. The informal gardens consist of Victorian pleasure grounds, an arboretum and grounds surrounding the Family’s private church.

The primary focus of this role will be to support the Head and Assistant Head Gardner with the management and maintenance of the formal garden hedges and boarders, vegetable garden, the glasshouses and pots.

You will be working alongside the Head and Assistant Head Gardner along with a team of three other full and part time Gardeners and so being a team player is essential but also the ability to use your own initiative as well as working alone at times.

Suitable applicants must have practical gardening experience with good basic skills and a willingness to learn and grow as a horticulturist. It would be desirable for the applicant to possess a recognised horticultural qualification, ideally holding the Level 2 RHS qualification (or be working towards it) as well as extensive experience in horticulturally diverse gardens with competence in all horticultural techniques, including propagation/glasshouse work and a good understanding of vegetable gardening. Applicants should have good plant identification skills, excellent attention to detail and a methodological and tidy approach to their work.  Applicants must be presentable, positive in attitude and possess a working understanding of the considerations required of gardeners on private estates. This is a hands-on role so good physical fitness and a willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weathers and seasons is essential.

Practical experience with the use and care of a full range of garden machinery is desired, though training can be provided in the areas necessary for otherwise suitable candidates.

Working hours are 39 hours per week, some overtime is available and there will be some weekend duties to undertake which are arranged within the team.

This 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 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