Senior Gardener
Senior Gardener required
Background
Ramster Hall is a family home just outside the small village of Chiddingfold in SW Surrey, just on the border of West Sussex. We are a popular wedding venue surrounded by 20+ acres of stunning woodland garden and 250 acres of farm and woodland. On a daily basis the estate is run by Rosie Glaister to whom you would report but you would also be working closely with Miranda Gunn who has the knowledge of the garden. This is ideally a live in position with a three bed property onsite.
The Job
We are looking for an enthusiastic senior gardener to work with the owners in managing the privately owned garden. The garden is open to the public daily in spring & autumn, with a teahouse on site for visitors too, we have also done experimental summer opening for the last year. The garden consists of a large collection of rhododendrons, a magnolia glade, an azalea garden, camellia walk, a woodland walk, bog garden and a fine collection of trees. There are more formal areas round the house and a courtyard garden used for weddings.
Applicants should have the relevant horticultural qualifications at least R.H.S. level 2 or equivalent and previous professional gardening experience, ideally gained in a large woodland garden environment and an interest in rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias and their companion plants. Applicants must be able to work efficiently on an independent basis as well as have a team-playing mentality combined with good leadership skills. They will be expected to show initiative and to get involved in the planning and running of the garden, to help develop it, and maintain it to a high standard.
This is no doubt a manual job requiring applicants to be able turn their hand to all routine garden maintenance jobs, pruning, mowing (hand and ride on), raking, cutting back, strimming, hedge cutting, weed killing, it’s a long list but with the aim of being able to take on sole responsibility for various areas of the garden. A knowledge of propagation is also an advantage. The ability to maintain garden machinery on a daily basis is essential, sub contractors are used for all major works and servicing.
You must be able to get on with fellow members of the team here and work with an existing under gardener, we all work hard to keep things going and expect to be asked to help out if someone needs a hand with a job and equally be able to ask for help when you need it! When the garden is open you may occasionally be required to chat to visitors and give advice / talk about what not to miss in the garden when required.
You must be able to keep a tidy tool shed have a good grasp on Health and Safety and maintain maintenance schedules for machinery and be able to communicate if there is a problem with anything that you use.
A full driving licence is essential and appropriate certification (PA1/PA6 and CS30/CS31) would be an advantage. Any further training that is required for the job can be undertaken at mutually convenient times.
This is a great opportunity for a keen and enthusiastic individual to extend their knowledge and experience, working with a wide range of plants and trees in a beautiful garden on this friendly, family run estate.
Applications are welcome from individuals and couples, with potentially part time work available to a spouse / partner.
