Senior Gardener – Private Gardens & Estates Bristol, Bath, South West

GreenFolk Gardening is an established horticultural company specialising in the care and management of beautiful private gardens and country estates across Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Gardener to join our growing team. This is a role for someone who combines strong horticultural knowledge and practical gardening skills with the confidence and leadership ability to manage a team and oversee the day-to-day care of exceptional private gardens and estates.

You will be responsible for maintaining gardens to the highest horticultural standards, organising and supervising the gardening team, liaising with clients and helping to ensure that every garden in our care is beautifully maintained throughout the year.

The position would allow the successful applicant to lead the restoration and maintenance of some historic listed gardens in beautiful settings. Gardening tasks would include the management of mature gardens, featuring substantial parkland and water ways, lawned areas, ancient woodlands and trees, established vegetable gardens with fruit trees, ornamental planting, walled gardens and water gardens.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and motivate a team of gardeners across a range of private gardens and estates
• Plan and organise daily and seasonal gardening tasks, ensuring work is completed efficiently and to a consistently high standard
• Maintain private gardens and country estates to exceptional horticultural standards throughout the seasons
• Carry out and oversee herbaceous border maintenance, planting, pruning and general plant care
• Manage lawn care, hedge cutting, topiary and seasonal garden maintenance
• Monitor plant health and identify and address horticultural issues appropriately
• Ensure gardening equipment and machinery is used safely and maintained to a high standard
• Support the training and development of less experienced members of the team
• Liaise professionally with clients and understand and respond to their requirements
• Provide clear communication between clients, the GreenFolk team and management
• Assist with the planning and implementation of garden improvements and ongoing development projects
• Maintain high standards of presentation, organisation and professionalism across all gardens

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in a senior gardening, head gardener or horticultural management role
• Strong experience managing, supervising or leading a gardening team
• Minimum five years’ professional horticultural experience, preferably including at least two years working in private gardens or estates
• Relevant horticultural qualification, such as RHS Level 2/3 or equivalent, desirable
• Excellent plant knowledge, including trees, shrubs, perennials and seasonal plants
• Strong practical skills in pruning, planting, border management, lawn care and seasonal garden maintenance
• Good understanding of garden planning, prioritisation and seasonal workload management
• Experience operating a range of professional horticultural machinery and equipment
• The ability to work independently while also leading and supporting a team
• High attention to detail and genuine pride in delivering exceptional horticultural standards

The Role

• Full-time position available
• Monday to Friday
• Circa £38,000–£42,000 pro rata for part-time, depending on experience and suitability
• Part-time position considered on a self-employed basis
• Opportunity to work across some of the South West’s finest private gardens and country estates
• Full UK driving licence essential
• Own vehicle required for travelling between gardens
• A varied and rewarding role within a growing, professional horticultural business

About You

We are looking for someone who is both an excellent gardener and a confident team leader. You take pride in your work and are equally comfortable organising others, setting standards, allocating work, and ensuring the whole team delivers consistently high-quality results.

If you are an experienced horticulturist who enjoys working in exceptional gardens, has a natural ability to lead a team and is ready to take responsibility for the day-to-day management and development of private gardens and estates, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please send your CV together with a brief covering letter outlining your experience, leadership responsibilities and interest in joining GreenFolk Gardening.

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

Tagged as: bath, Bristol, full time, Part time, Private Advert, Senior Gardener, South West