Sole Gardener - Live In - EC7509

A wonderful opportunity for a skilled Sole Gardener has arisen at an impressive private garden near Stourhead, Wiltshire.  This property is owned by an artist with a genuine passion for their garden and the owner is looking to collaborate with an experienced gardener with a flair for design, on the continued development of the garden. 

Applicants for this position will ideally hold an academic horticultural qualification at RHS Level 3 or equivalent/above.  Hands-on garden management experience with a positive attitude is important as is the ability to plan and manage your own workload proactively.  The successful applicant will get a generous employment package, as detailed below.

The Grade 2 listed property has a 1.5-acre garden with views over the wider Stourhead Estate.  The garden comprises formal lawns (which are looked after by a specialist contractor), box and yew hedges/topiary, herbaceous borders and new perennial planting, a pergola and herb terrace, an orchard in a perennial meadow, a greenhouse and both formal and informal ponds.  The owner has created the garden from the ground up over the last 19-years, and there is ongoing development.  The ecological conversion of the orchard into a sustainable perennial meadow is an interesting project in which the Sole Gardener will play an important role.  The garden is currently open once a year under the NGS.   

Typical duties of the Sole Gardener will include all usual garden maintenance tasks as well as pest and disease management via organic means (whenever possible), the appropriate seasonal, species-specific pruning of shrubs and fruit trees, as well as clipping of topiary/hedging.  The gardener will be responsible for maintenance of all paths, terraces and garden features; e.g. ponds, the pergola and outdoor seating.  The gardener will be responsible for the supervision of the external lawn maintenance contractors.

Applicants will need to have a keen interest in colour sensitive planting and be willing to work with the owner in the continual development of planting designs, including seasonal bulbs and annuals.  Applicants should have excellent plant knowledge, including propagation, and good attention to detail.   As collaboration with the owner is important, at least a weekly meeting or email will be required of the successful applicant.

This role will be contracted to 35-hours per week.  The position is offered with a 10% pension contribution and a very generous 30-days holiday per annum, plus Bank Holidays (with holidays to be taken at times agreed with the owners).  A charming three-bedroom cottage with south-facing garden is provided rent-free, however Council Tax and utility bills are to be paid by the Sole Gardener.

SALARY:       £24,000 + Accommodation

LOCATION:   Near Stourhead, Wiltshire

JOB No:         EC7509

If this Sole Gardener 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 Sole 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 Sole Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.