Gardener

The Knole Estate are seeking an enthusiastic gardener to work in the private gardens of Lord Sackville. The gardener will be employed on a rolling contract, working 40 hours per week.

The Role

The qualified gardener will be based in the Grade 1 listed private gardens at Knole House in Sevenoaks. The 26 acres of walled garden contain many historic features, including the longest wisteria in the world, the oldest wilderness in the country and a snail mound. The employee will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of garden tasks including maintaining the orchard and wild flower meadow, vegetable
garden, borders, turf, decorative hedges and water features. The gardener may be required to assist with general maintenance work in the 1000-acre medieval deer park from time to time with the Park Keeper.
The gardener will report directly to the head gardener or the assistant head
gardener. You will be working in a private family garden, it is therefore important to maintain and respect the privacy of the family. Members of the public are able to view the garden for one day per week during the summer months (covid-19 restrictions permitting) and you will be required to interact politely with visitors, answering questions and talking about your work.
You will be required to perform any duties or tasks to help with the smooth day-to-day running of the garden under current Health and safety at work regulations.

Day to day duties will include:
 Lawn maintenance.
 Maintaining formal boarders.
 Maintaining informal boarders.
 Pruning (trees, shrubs, climbers and fruit).
 Hedge cutting (formal and informal).
 Vegetables production for the house.
 Production of herbaceous perennials.
 Weeding and spraying.
 Watering (pots and beds).
 Maintaining water features (formal and informal).
 Use of garden machinery (ride on mowers, pedestrian mowers, hedge
cutters, brush cutters, compact tractor and any other when required)
 To ensure all health and safety procedures are adhered to.
 Composting.
 Mulching.
 Fruit production.
 Cut flower/ pot plant production for the house.
 Any other duties that may arise during the working day.
 Where necessary you will be required to help garden trainees.
 Chainsaw work on trees in the garden and park (no climbing).

Salary and working hours

The gardener will receive a competitive remuneration package. Working hours will be 8am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays, with a break of one hour for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.

Candidate Qualifications

The successful candidate will have obtained the Royal Horticultural Society Level 2 Qualification (or equivalent). You will have at least five G.C.S.E’s (or equivalent) at A*-C (or Grade 9-4) and will hold a full, clean, driving licence. Ideally you will have obtained PA1 and PA6 Pesticide Application Qualifications and Cs30-Cc31
Chainsaw Qualifications.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for an enthusiastic, diligent and hardworking gardener; who will be happy to take instruction but will also possess initiative and flare. We are hoping to recruit a gardener who is comfortable working as part of a team as well as independently. It is essential that the gardener is willing to work outside in all weather conditions. The successful candidate will have a keen interest in gardening.

Please apply below adding a covering letter along with a up to date curriculum vitae by midday on Friday 16th April 2021.