Head Gardener - Live Out - EC5187

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior/Head Gardener to manage 2-3 full-time gardeners on a stunning 40-acre estate located near Beckley, Oxfordshire.  Suitable applicants will be experienced and qualified gardeners with a proven ability to manage Under Gardeners in a private estate setting.

Set within a wider 40-acres, the young yet established 3-acre formal garden comprises a kitchen garden, extensive areas of hard landscaping, expansive formal lawns, herbaceous borders, young trees, a young wisteria walkway, formal raised-planters, a tennis court, a small lake with boathouse, hornbeam topiary, box hedging, roses, and surrounding mature trees.  Despite the relatively newly-planted garden, the current owners plan to undertake a major overhaul of the estate in terms of improvement of the gardens throughout the property.  This is therefore a fantastic opportunity for a gardener at senior level to apply their creative eye, from a plant use and design perspective, as well as to utilise their skills in hard and soft landscaping. 

Applicants must have demonstrable experience of working as a Head or Senior Gardener on private estates, as well as that of staff or volunteer gardener management.  As this position will involve the planning and implementation of small but numerous projects on site, applicants must have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.  As the Head Gardener, excellent plant knowledge is required, as is an ability to operate garden machinery, maintain excellent standards of health and safety, and to be diplomatic in the management of staff whilst adhering to the aims of the client.  A proven ability and understanding of kitchen gardening is also necessary.

Suitable candidates should hold a recognised academic horticultural qualification at Level 3 or above and/or extensive experience at Senior/Head Gardener level on horticulturally-diverse private estates.  Candidates with a background, qualifications and/or experience in garden design are also encouraged to apply.  Possession of spray certificates (PA1/PA6) would be beneficial, as would some experience in turf management.  The successful applicant will be expected to liaise with the property owners on a regular basis in order to assure continued and efficient implementation of garden renovations, and day-to-day maintenance.

If this Head Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Mark Read on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

SALARY: Circa £35,000 DOE

LOCATION:  Beckley, Oxfordshire

JOB No:  EC5187

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