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JOB Ref: EC25982

Senior Gardener

  • Full Time Live Out
  • Circa £33,000-£38,000 DOE
  • Gloucestershire

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced and knowledgeable gardener to play a leading role on a beautiful, historic, Arts and Crafts garden near Cirencester.  This position would suit a qualified and knowledgeable hands-on gardener with experience at senior level.

The private estate is open to the public at certain times of the year and (during a normal year) attracts approximately 8000 visitors per year, however the family aims to increase this significantly in the future.  The property is privately owned and has remained in the same family since its construction in the early 20th century, with the fourth generation now enjoying the estate and playing an active and hands-on role in its maintenance and development.  The estate plays host to a small number of events each year.

Set within a small rural village and surrounded by agricultural fields and paddocks, the estate comprises an impressive main building of Cotswold stone with formal gardens extending to 8-acres.   The gardens follow a traditional formal English manor house style with generous planting of yew and box topiary, extensive hedging, herbaceous borders, planters, a variety of shrubs, native and exotic tree species, manicured lawns and climbing wisteria.  A walled garden is currently undergoing renovation.

The gardens are currently managed by two part-time gardeners, apprentices and volunteers. A requirement therefore exists for a new Senior Gardener to take the lead on garden management and development, which will involve working closely with the owners.

The ideal candidate will possess suitable academic horticultural qualifications as well as extensive hands-on garden management experience on private estates.  Applicants must have good knowledge of seasonal horticultural practices, species-specific pruning techniques and the ability to manage a garden budget, supervise part-time gardeners, volunteers and contractors with diplomacy and positivity in order to ensure a happy and effective team.  Experience of creating and maintaining topiary, mixed borders, lawns, kitchen gardening and plant propagation, is essential.  Applicants must be competent with the operation and basic maintenance of a wide range of garden machinery, with spray certificates (PA1/PA6) desirable.  This is a hands-on role that requires dedication, excellent time management and good physical fitness.

The Senior Gardener role will primarily involve working with the owners to develop the garden as both a private residence and visitor attraction, by way of maintaining excellent standards of presentation throughout the year.  As a key player on the estate, informal conversations with visitors about the garden will be expected, as well as developing towards conducting tours of the garden to groups of visitors.  Applicants should therefore be positive in their approach, confident in character and should find enjoyment and reward in passing on their expertise to visitors and colleagues alike.

SALARY: Circa £33,000-£38,000 DOE

LOCATION:Cirencester, Gloucestershire

JOB No:EC25982

If this Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

www.englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

Tagged as: Live Out, Senior Gardener

Recruitment Specialist Sara Yassin