Kitchen Gardener
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Kitchen Gardener to take ownership of a varied and interesting productive garden on a beautiful and well-known private estate near Ayot-St-Lawrence in Hertfordshire. The impressive period property is framed by gardens designed by a highly respected Chelsea Gold Medal winning designer who continues to be involved with the gardens at an estate/garden management level. The new Kitchen Gardener will liaise with the property owner and the estate manager/designer as well as the Senior Gardener with a view to ensuring the smooth running and further development of the kitchen garden in line with new ideas and techniques. This position would suit a talented kitchen gardener with a genuine passion for the production of fruit and vegetables; common and otherwise, as well as a hunger to experiment with new produce where possible.
The privately-owned estate encompasses approximately 40 acres, of which five are gardens maintained to a very high standard. The gardens are open once a year at the end of May as part of the NGS scheme and as testament to their popularity, have recently broken the regional record for the most successful turnout in a day. The varied site includes a 4 ¼ acre ornamental garden with water features, trees, shrubs, perennials and a long list of additional features, plants and areas beyond. Glasshouses on site are used for, growing vegetables, overwintering citrus, and a few ornamentals and the orangery provides a year round colourful green extra sitting area. The remainder of the estate encompasses paddocks/ménage, a tennis court, parkland and a swimming pool. The existing garden team are noted for their small but much-praised production of fruit and vegetables, of which some are used for home-made preserves and juices. The estate also provides a home for various animals; a small herd of Dexter cattle, Texel sheep, chickens and horses.
The kitchen garden encompasses ¾ acre in addition to the two glasshouses and two poly tunnels. A wide variety of fruit (top and soft), vegetables and herbs are grown within the walled garden and the glasshouses. As the estate opens on occasion to the public and sells the produce on a regular basis, presentation and planning is important. The estate has featured in many publications and is a respected property due to the stunning gardens and edible produce which, on open days, are displayed in such a way as to demonstrate the growing process as well as the end result. The Kitchen Gardener must be able to plan and execute the production of batches of fruit and vegetables on time throughout the seasons. The property owner is very passionate about the productive aspect of the gardens, loves cooking and welcomes new ideas and methodologies to ensure continued interest.
Applications are sought from experienced and knowledgeable Kitchen Gardeners who will have assumed responsibility of a varied productive garden either on a private or commercial site. The successful applicant will be required to assist in the ornamental gardens during quiet times of the season and when work in the kitchen garden slows, so applicants should be willing and able to assist on a general horticultural / garden maintenance front when their primary duties allow.
The successful applicant will be self-motivated, genuinely enthusiastic about productive gardening, with excellent communication and time management skills. A full driving licence and your own transport are required as the property is located rurally.
SALARY: Up to £30,000 DOE
LOCATION: Ayot-St-Lawrence in Hertfordshire
JOB No: EC34528
If this Kitchen Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk.
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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Kitchen 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 Kitchen Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful
