Head Gardener (Live out) - EC4578

A rather unique vacancy has arisen for a Head Gardener to manage a heritage site in Bedfordshire that has food and flower gardens in an ornamental setting alongside wild flowers and cultivated garden plants. The gardens grow cereal crops such as oats, rye, wheat and barley in rotation with potatoes, onions, cabbages and showcase habitats for farming and protection of wildlife.

The client is looking for an experienced Head Gardener who can enhance and develop all areas of the garden and meadows ensuring high standards of horticultural maintenance, presentation and visitor engagement to bring creative excellence to the garden.

It is essential that applicants have an RHS Level 3 certificate in practical horticulture, demonstrable equivalent hands-on experience and ideally a vocational qualification and/or extensive experience working with volunteers. Spray certificates (PA1/PA6) and a First Aid Certificate would be beneficial though not essential, as training may be provided.  

The role will entail working within gardens and landscapes open to the public, therefore considerable experience with the public would be an advantage as would experience of running a kitchen garden. As part of the role you will be expected to supervise and train volunteers. Due to the garden being open to the public comprehensive, knowledge of Health and Safety, COSSH and risk assessment procedures are essential.

Gardening duties will include hands-on management of the garden and grounds alongside drawing up management plans, ensuring the machinery and tools are suitably maintained, maintaining the garden infrastructure, plant propagation, and pest/weed management and sustainable recycling of garden waste.

Management duties to include setting and managing garden budgets, attending regular meetings, input into social media with the Marketing Manager, attend training courses as required and occasional weekend or overtime duties.

ACCOMMODATION: Live out position

LOCATION: Near Bedford

SALARY: Circa £30,000 – 35,000 depending on experience

JOB No: EC4578

If this position is of interest, please apply or contact Ruth Bolam on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk . 

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this vacancy.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to everyone.  Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application will have been unsuccessful.