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HEAD GARDENER

Employer
Hill Close Gardens
Location
Warwickshire
Salary
£24,500-£28,500
Closing date
4 Mar 2019

HILL CLOSE GARDENS, WARWICK

HEAD GARDENER

Salary range £ 24,500 -£28,500 per annum

Hill Close Gardens Trust, Warwick, is seeking an experienced professional gardener to maintain and improve 16 small Victorian Gardens (recently restored, about 1 hectare in total), working with volunteers.

Details can be found at  www.hillclosegardens.com

HILL CLOSE GARDENS TRUST

Hill Close Gardens are listed as Grade II* by English Heritage and their restoration was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Warwick District Council and other charities.  These Victorian gardens are of national historic importance.  There are 16 gardens, some with listed brick summerhouses, within the approximately one hectare site.  Each garden is being developed to show its historic individuality, much of the work being done by volunteers.

JOB PROFILE

The Head Gardener will be an employee of Hill Close Gardens Trust Limited and will be responsible to the Chairman of the Gardens Team, or such other persons as the Trustees may appoint, and will liaise directly with the garden volunteers.  He/she will work a basic 37-hour week, with some flexibility in the hours and days worked. The Head Gardener will organise and carry out the day-to-day running of the gardens in liaison with the Gardens Team.

Duties will include:

  •  Ensuring that all the gardens, including nursery and glasshouse, are developed and maintained to a high horticultural standard, working with volunteers
  •  Ensuring compliance on site with the Health and Safety at Work Act and ALL relevant legislation
  • Ensuring that the volunteers are adequately trained for the tasks they are asked to perform
  • Advising the Gardens Team of any major works which can be foreseen
  • Conducting specialist tours of the gardens
  • Managing the production of plants for sale and for use in the gardens
  • Maintaining security of the site, materials and equipment and keeping stock lists of same
  • Preparing planting plans for the next season
  • Managing the maintenance budgets of the gardens within the framework laid down by the Gardens Team
  • Liaising with outside organisations
  • Assisting in Trust events
  • Performing such other duties as may be required from time to time

PERSON PROFILE

Qualifications

Relevant qualifications in horticulture (preferably at HNC level or higher), with appropriate work experience in amenity horticulture, preferably in an historic garden context.

Desirable Qualifications

  • First aid certification
  • Membership of professional bodies
  • FEPA certification (Use of Pesticides PA1 and PA6)

Essential Qualities

  • Practical experience and a good knowledge of plants and horticultural techniques, machinery and equipment
  • Ability to make decisions and sound judgements
  • Able to lead and motivate others
  • Good communication skills
  • Friendly and outgoing
  • Self-motivated
  • Computer literate
  • Flexible approach to work

Desirable Qualities

  • Desire to improve own knowledge and skills
  • Interest in historic gardens
  • Knowledge and experience of the care of fruit trees

Training

The Trustees will support appropriate training.

Closing date: 4 March 2019

Interviews 15 March 2019

31 Jan 2019

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