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Estate Gardener/Worker - Live Out - EC7426

Employer
English Country Gardeners
Location
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Salary
Circa £25,000 DOE
Closing date
5 Sep 2019

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Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
Function
Gardening Jobs
Sector
Horticultural Specialist

A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Estate/Gardener Worker to join a stunning 70-acre private estate near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent.  This position would suit an experienced and flexible gardener with good estate maintenance/outdoor skills and the ability to work autonomously, as well as with the Estate Manager and other team members where necessary.

The estate has a keen focus on natural habitat creation and maintenance, and comprises a 15-acre lake, three ponds, a small fenced orchard with approximately 140 mixed (primarily apple) trees, a greenhouse, expansive lawns, hedging, mature trees and areas of ornamental planting.  Approximately 500-metres of the local river runs through a section of the property.  Twenty beehives are located within the orchard and are maintained by a commercial company.  A dedicated wildlife area adjacent to the river, known as the Water Gardens, has been developed for the purpose of wildlife/habitat enhancement.  The estate also houses chickens, ducks and pygmy goats, with wild deer to breeding kingfishers frequently seen on this peaceful and beautiful property.

Under the Estate and Fisheries Manager, the successful applicant will primarily work on and develop the estate gardens, though the work will be varied and interesting beyond that of a traditional Gardener due to the nature of the estate.  The role will involve restoration and maintenance of the main house garden and surrounding estate, including the future development of the garden in line with the owner’s vision.  Garden management aspects will include mowing, strimming and scrub control as well as planting, propagation and border maintenance.  Assistance with hard landscaping projects such as footpath restoration and maintenance, fencing, gate hanging and other construction work will be necessary, as will assistance with the day-to-day upkeep of and maintenance of all garden machinery and equipment.  The Estate/Gardener Worker should competent in the use of estate and garden machinery, such as (but not limited to), ride-on mowers, strimmers, tractors, woodchippers, blowers, hedge cutters and chainsaws.  If no certification is held, i.e. in chainsaw operation, the successful candidate will be trained via the appropriate courses at the company’s cost.  Candidates with experience in the operation of small diggers, dumpers and tractors are encouraged to apply.   

Applicants for this role should have strong gardening/horticultural experience on private estates and will ideally hold an academic horticultural qualification at Level 2 or above.  Experience in the above stated areas is necessary, as is a strong work ethic and good physical fitness.  Pesticide/herbicide use is kept to a minimum on the estate; however experience with backpack sprayers is desired of applicants.  The successful applicant will be expected to keep maintenance records for machinery and chemicals, to assist with the day-to-day facilities maintenance programme, to work as part of the estates team, and at times, work with and assist contractors.  The role will also include feeding of fish from a boat or from the shore, working within the lake with chest waders and occasionally a dry suit, planting and tree work from shore and boat, and keeping the sluice runs clear from vegetation.  Applicants must therefore be confident around water and must be competent swimmers.

Applicants must be able to attend the estate within thirty minutes due to the nature of the role, and must possess their own vehicle for this purpose.  The successful candidate will be required to pass a stringent security check and must have no criminal record.  Some occasional out-of-hours cover for alarm call-outs and management of animals within the estate will be necessary on occasion, so applicants must be flexible and willing to take ownership and pride in their role. 

Hours of work comprise Monday to Friday; 08:00 – 17:00 with some out-of-hours work and weekend work required on occasion for the above stated reasons.

This is a rare and interesting role on a beautiful estate, with a great team.  It could be accurately described as a ‘lifestyle job’ with those having a fondness for the outdoors and a varied associated skill set being particularly suited.

LOCATION:  Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

SALARY:       Circa £25,000 DOE

JOB No:          EC7426

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

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Estate Gardener/Worker 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 Estate Gardener/Worker vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

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