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Head Gardener - Live In/Live Out

Employer
English Country Gardeners
Location
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Salary
£25,000 - £35,000 Live in/out
Closing date
11 Dec 2019

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

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced and knowledgeable gardener to play a leading role on a beautiful, historic, traditional English country estate near Cirencester.  This position would suit an academically qualified and knowledgeable hands-on gardener with experience at senior and/or Head Gardener level.

The private estate is open to the public at certain times of the year and currently attracts approximately 8000 visitors per year, however the family aims to increase this significantly following completion of a major refurbishment to the house in 2020.  The property is privately owned and has remained in the same family since its construction in the early 20th century, with the fourth generation now enjoying the estate and playing an active and hands-on role in its maintenance and development.  The estate plays host to a small number of events, such as a Rare Plant Fair, an opera, and a crafts event. An extensive snowdrop collection is also a significant draw for visitors each year.

Set within a small rural village and surrounded by agricultural fields and paddocks, the estate comprises an impressive main building of Cotswold stone with formal gardens extending to 8-acres.  The gardens follow a traditional formal English manor house style with generous planting of yew and box topiary, extensive hedging, herbaceous borders, planters, a variety of shrubs, native and exotic tree species, manicured lawns and climbing wisteria.  A walled garden is currently undergoing renovation.

Following the amicable departure of the previous incumbent, the gardens are currently managed by one part-time gardener, one apprentice, two volunteers and regular hands-on contributions from the family themselves.  A requirement therefore exists for a new Head Gardener to take the lead on garden management and development, which will involve working closely with the owners.

The ideal candidate will possess suitable academic and industrial horticultural qualifications as well as extensive hands-on garden management experience on private estates.  Applicants must have good knowledge of seasonal horticultural practices, species-specific pruning techniques and have the ability to supervise part-time gardeners, manage a garden budget, volunteers and contractors with diplomacy and positivity in order to ensure a happy and effective team.  Experience of creating and maintaining topiary, mixed borders, lawn maintenance, kitchen gardening and plant propagation, is essential.  Applicants must be competent with the operation and basic maintenance of a wide range of garden machinery, with spray certificates (PA1/PA6) desirable. 

The Head Gardener role will primarily involve working with the owners to develop the garden as both a private residence and visitor attraction, by way of maintaining excellent standards of presentation throughout the year.  As a key player on the estate, informal conversations with visitors about the garden will be expected, as well as developing towards conducting tours of the garden to groups of visitors.  Applicants should therefore be positive in their approach, confident in character and should find enjoyment and reward in passing on their expertise to visitors and colleagues alike.

A three-bedroom cottage is available, if required, with a salary adjustment made accordingly as outlined by the range below.  The cottage may be used temporarily in order to ensure smooth relocation of the successful candidate, or permanently if preferred. If the successful candidate prefers to live out, the higher end of the salary range will be offered.

SALARY:       £25,000 - £35,000 Live in/out

LOCATION:  Cirencester, Gloucestershire

JOB No:          EC8025

If this Head 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 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 vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

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