Head Gardener/Plantsperson wanted for Designer’s Garden, nr Bruton, Somerset

Head Gardener/Plantsperson wanted for Designer’s Garden, nr Bruton, Somerset

Enthusiastic and knowledgeable head gardener/plantsperson wanted to manage landscape designer's garden near Bruton, Somerset.  

The job would suit a keen and energetic younger horticulturalist wanting to step up to a head gardener's position or an experienced head gardener wanting an interesting life horticulturally.  Above all, we are looking for a pro-active and energetic person to help keep the garden interesting and fresh and bring their own spirit and passion to the place to complement ours.  

The suitable candidate must be interested in plants and plantsmanship with a good experience of all forms of horticulture from maintaining borders to propagation, working in greenhouses to pruning. Good understanding of pests and diseases is important and interest in plant collections and combinations helpful. The garden is 2.5 acres but intensively gardened with successional planting and many pot combinations.  As a landscape designer and member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee and an RHS Plant Trial Forum member, the owner never stops growing new plants and playing with planting combinations so an interest in experimenting with plants would be great. An interest in wild flower meadows although not necessary would also be useful as we have exceptional, ancient meadows. The garden is attracting interest from garden tours  and is open for the NGS so the candidate must be able to keep it looking good at all times and be happy to show people around if required.  We also do limited propagation of interesting plants for garden plant sales.

The candidate would be expected to be very hands-on and an active team member as well as running one other experienced gardener as well as outside freelance and landscape contractors. The candidate would be responsible for a full range of mechanical equipment and all health and safety matters within the garden. The job will also involve a certain amount of administration and care taking, including accepting deliveries, ordering plants and supplies plus supervising the work of outside contractors.

The job entails everything from border maintenance to the creation of exciting planter displays...and is never dull! We are looking for someone who would like to continue on our horticultural journey of making this an exceptional garden, whose enthusiasms will match ours and in return we are happy to help with training and mentoring for the right candidate. Above all we want to feel that we are all on a similar journey through the horticultural year celebrating all that is wonderful about gardens and horticulture to the highest standards.

Garden Description

The garden is designed in two parts with different characters and planting approaches. One part is very colourful and lively with different terraces including the kitchen terraces, kitchen garden, pool and tennis court and small orchard with wildflower meadows. The second part of the garden is calmer with sculptural banks, echoing the striations on the hillside opposite, falling towards the house with wide contemporary herbaceous borders, tree and shrub borders. The area around the house contains a terrace with more herbaceous planting and many roses.

The 18^th century house has a rather French feel and was the former rectory of the very pretty village of Batcombe. It sits towards the lower end of a valley, and the field beyond the house falls to a small stream running through woodland to magical wildflower meadows beyond which clothe the steep hillsides and an interest in wildflowers and wider landscape planting would be helpful.

For images of the garden please go to www.mazzullorusselllandscapedesign.com and look for Batcombe House. The photo with the espalier apples shows the gardener's cottage in the background and please see images attached also.

Accommodation

The job come with a very pretty, recently converted stable courtyard flat with incredible views down our valley, with 2 double bedrooms, a large open plan beamed sitting room with wood burning fire, kitchen, bathroom and lower ground floor utility/office.  Also included is the use of a small private garden and the occasional use of a shared vehicle.

Salary is commensurate with experience and there is the possibility of part-time work for a partner within the house or garden if desired. 

Please give details of all training and experience, including details of all proficiency certificates achieved.  References are essential and it would be helpful to know about your interests and hobbies.Replies to Mrs Libby Russell, Batcombe House, Batcombe, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6HF on 01749 850026 Mob 07836 359239, week nights 020 7823 5603 or preferably by e-mail to "russelllib@mac.com” .