Head Gardener

BACKGROUND

Thame Park is a Grade 1 private estate on the site of a Cistercian Monastery and located near Thame in Oxfordshire. The house is located within extensive parkland and is surrounded by 20 acres of gardens and woodland.

THE GARDENS

• Formal gardens surrounding the main house
• A walled garden containing both heated and unheated modern Alitex greenhouses, a rose garden, fountain garden, soft fruit cage, vegetable garden and herbaceous borders containing a range of fruit trees
• wild flower meadow to the front of the house
• orchard
• a long lake containing two islands planted with ornamental shrubs and trees
• woodland gardens

THE ROLE

The Estate is looking to recruit a HEAD GARDENER to manage the team of gardeners both developing and maintaining the gardens.

The position is live-in and accommodation will be provided in a cottage on the estate.  The successful candidate will be responsible for the coaching and development of the gardening team ensuring all members are motivated and work effectively.

This is an opportunity for an enthusiastic gardener to maintain and develop the gardens around a historic house which after years of neglect has been extensively renovated over the last 10 years.

The Head Gardener will need to co-ordinate with the other disciplines concerning projects being developed. The parkland also contains significant woodland and the role will require management of external contractors who perform the arboriculture work and communication with the tenant farmers who graze the parkland.

Skills required for the role

• Diploma or degree in Horticulture by either;
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
• NVQ level 3
• At least five years’ post qualifying full time work experience
• At least three years’ experience in a similar environment managing a team of gardeners
• Ability to lead and organise a small and productive team
• Ability to train and develop individuals
• Applicants will need to be physically fit as this is a hands on gardening position.
• computer literate and able to develop the annual work schedules together with the planting records and work within a formal purchase order system communicating with internal and external parties by e-mail