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Head Gardener

Employer
Ralph Trustees Limited
Location
Watford, Hertfordshire
Salary
Competitive plus fantastic benefits
Closing date
15 Jul 2018

The Grove is much more than just a luxury five-star hotel. Set in 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside in the South of England, we are only 18 miles from central London.

The former home of the Earls of Clarendon is now a championship golf resort, award winning Sequoia Spa and unique venue for meetings, weddings and celebrations. There is something quirky to be found around every corner… who would have thought you could discover a medieval Walled Garden revealing an Urban Beach complete with beach bar! Now as one of the Leading Hotels of The World, it was here that Queen Victoria invented the ‘Weekend Break’.

Lovingly restored, the property fuses contemporary design and period architecture with exceptionally caring and professional service.

Would you like to work in a unique hotel set in magnificent surroundings, with a great team of people?

A superb opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head Gardener with excellent plant knowledge and wide-ranging horticultural skills to supervise a team of 10 gardeners in managing the gardens and grounds of this amazing 300 acre estate. The gardens are themed and include a three acre walled garden, a formal garden, large lawn areas, a vegetable garden (where the produce is used in the Hotel kitchen), extensive water features and open parkland.

The position requires a highly-organised individual with a good eye for detail and experience of managing high-end private estate gardens. Applicants will need to demonstrate comprehensive hands-on experience in a similar role managing a large garden to the highest of standards.

Applications are encouraged from Head Gardeners with working knowledge of every aspect of garden management including plant care knowledge, pest and disease management / IPM.  Integrated Pest Management is a significant part of horticulture and arboriculture.  Candidates will ideally hold an academic horticultural qualification at degree level of equivalent to RHS level 2 or at least 8 years’ experience in private estate gardens.

Managing the gardens team and working alongside the Golf Course Greenkeeping team, your primary responsibility will be the upkeep of all of the various different compartments of the gardens with an emphasis on borders, fruit & veg and cut flowers and teaching the gardens team new skills as they are eager to develop their knowledge.

Other key attributes for the role are enthusiasm, sense of humour with pride and passion in your work.

Reporting to the Golf Course & Estate Manager, we are looking for a dynamic person to take full responsibility for the management of the gardens which are well established.  In addition, there are a number of ongoing projects requiring flexibility and a willingness to adapt to change and variation.

 

 

 

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