Head Gardener
The owners of RHS Partner Garden, Holme for Gardens in Dorset, are looking for an ambitious Head Gardener to lead the gardening team in the continued development of the rapidly improving 20acre site.
About the Gardens at Holme
The Gardens at Holme have been laid out in the last 10 years on the site of a former Pick Your Own Fruit Farm. The garden contains about 7acres of formal and informal gardens including the Pear Tunnel, the Holme Henge heather garden, Events Lawn, Hot Borders, Palm Garden, Pastel borders, formal flower garden, Canal Garden and Cloister walk.
There are a further 13 acres which include, an orchard, various perennial, and annual flower meadows, a 2acre woodland, a grass amphitheatre, several ponds and water features and a garden nursery.
The ethos of the garden is to provide visitors with a relaxing and inspiring day out and a big part of this is to encourage wildlife throughout by creating a mosaic of habitats. Chemical control is kept to an absolute minimum and used only as a last resort. Very few fertilisers are used but recycled garden green waste compost and locally sourced bark chip are used to improve the soil. Holme has close associations with Dorset Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plant Heritage and local ecologists to ensure a healthy and diverse flora and fauna.
The gardens are attached to a successful Garden Centre, Farm Shop and the Orchard Café, which have all experienced strong growth in recent years. The Gardens are seen as key to the future mix of the business, aiming to attract visitors from near and far.
Garden Management Arrangements
The current garden management is undertaken by one of the business owners Simon Goldsack but due to his professional garden design business commitments and other management aspects he is looking to become less involved in the daily work of the garden. The new Head Gardener will work closely with Simon to develop the Gardens at Holme into a garden of national repute.
The garden already has a good structure with several long vistas and cross vistas flanked by mixed and herbaceous borders and a rapidly expanding plant collection including over 2000 accessions. Holme is a young garden that has come a long way in just a few years and is now looking to work with a new Head gardener who can give the existing borders that extra lift and sparkle, with carefully planned successional flowering.
Holme’s surroundings
Holme is in a beautiful area of the country with high levels of sunshine and some wonderful natural features such as Poole Harbour, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Portland Bill. There are beautiful local beaches, the seaside towns of Swanage and Weymouth, hundreds of miles of country walks and the South Dorset AONB.
What is required?
The successful applicant will be responsible for leading the existing team of three, in managing the day to day and seasonal tasks involved with maintaining a large public garden. During the quieter winter months, the team is involved with the landscaping and development of new areas.
Those applying for the position should be proficient in basic plant propagation and raising plants from seed, maintenance of herbaceous and mixed borders, turf and lawn culture, tree maintenance and light pruning.
They should also have previous experience of managing staff, i.e. setting the work plan, training team members when applicable, and maintaining a safe working environment.
Qualifications of RHS Level 3 Horticulture, Higher National Diploma are useful as indications of training but not essential so long as the applicant is well read in horticulture and can demonstrate they have the requisite knowledge and experience.
How to Apply
If you are interested in the position please apply in writing to Simon Goldsack, Holme for Gardens, West Holme Farm, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6AQ or by email to simon@holmefg.co.uk. Remember to include a summary of why you are applying for the position and your curriculum vitae
Closing Date for Applications is 31st January 2022.
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.
