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Position filled
JOB Ref: EC45031

Senior Gardener for a vibrant rural project on Dartmoor

  • Full Time Live Out Part Time
  • £27,000 -£33,000 pro rata
  • Devon

A unique opportunity has arisen for a talented Senior Gardener on a private estate in West Devon. The position would suit an experienced Senior Gardener or Horticulturist with excellent knowledge of organic gardening.

As the project is still in its infancy this role will require someone who is happy to take the lead and use their initiative, creating and building a small garden team, and initiating and executing an annual plan. Your guidance from a horticultural perspective will be required at all times, whether with the Project Manager, garden staff, the estate owners or landscaping contractors.

About the estate and the land:

Beden is a 220 acre private estate, tucked away just 10 minutes drive from Tavistock and 30 minutes from Plymouth.

A natural paradise, biodiverse Beden has been formed by hundreds of years of marginal farming and more recent conservation efforts. The river valley and rugged moor is as close to being natural and wild as it is currently possible to get in southern Britain.

Based across the estate are a handful of residential properties, two with small gardens and one, the main house, with a two acre semi-formal garden. Garden features include a cut flower garden, small rose garden, vegetable garden, fruit cage, three orchards and new solitary trees. Another, larger, property is to be built with an array of formal gardens, which will be designed and implemented by 2024.

The majority of the land comprises open meadows, woodland, and paddocks containing rare breed cattle, sheep, goats and Dartmoor ponies for conservation grazing. Part of the land is SSSI and a large area is under Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship.

The role:

The successful applicant will report to the Project Manager and be responsible for leading horticultural and land related activity on the estate, including the management of a small garden team, setting up systems and processes for the department, planning, garden creation, maintenance, contractors, plant ordering, working on grant applications, hands-on gardening and woodland management.

The entire site will be managed organically with a focus on native habitat management. Applicants must have good theoretical and working knowledge of all aspects of gardening.

Company description:

Beden is a not-for-profit rewilding, regenerative agriculture initiative, as well as a private home with tenanted properties that work in harmony with nature. It is our ambition to proactively enhance biodiversity, alongside making the land a most beautiful and inspiring habitat and providing a diversity of nutrient rich organic tasty food for the residing humans.

Required experience:

  • Recognised horticultural qualification
  • Excellent general horticultural and plant knowledge
  • Experience of leading a small team of gardeners
  • Experience of staff team management
  • Practical application of Health and Safety best practice
  • Good knowledge of garden equipment and machinery, its safe operation and maintenance
  • Good understanding of hard landscaping techniques
  • Time management and prioritising efficiently
  • Tractor + attachments, trailer experience
  • Drivers licence and own transport
  • Ability to give and follow instructions, use initiative and work well alone, or as part of a team
  • English speaker
  • Good communicator
  • Willing to work in all weather conditions

Desirable skills/qualifications:

  • Planning for grant applications
  • Chainsaw certificate
  • Land/Habitat management and conservation
  • Survey work

Benefits:

  • Beautiful and peaceful working environment
  • Simplyhealth membership
  • Perkbox
  • Cycle to work

Please send a CV and cover letter explaining why you are applying for the role at Beden and how you meet the requirements listed for the job.

www.beden.co.uk

Full-time, Permanent

4 to 5 days per week

Salary: £27-33k pro rata

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Salary: £27,000.00-£33,000.00 per year

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.

Tagged as: full time, Live Out, Part time, Senior Gardener

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