Head Gardener

FRON HEULOG ESTATE, LLANDDERFEL

3 miles from Bala, North Wales.

HEAD GARDENER

The owners are looking to create a new garden of significance and with a sense of place for the history of the site, the house, and local area. The gardens are being developed on a historic site by international garden designer, Lady Arabella Lennox Boyd.

FRON HEULOG is a 58-acre estate, situated on the edge of the Berwyn’s overlooking the River Dee Valley. A Georgian House sits at the centre of the estate, dating from 1815 (Grade II Listed) surrounded by Ancient Woodland and Pasture. The emerging gardens will consist of formal and informal areas which will surround the house, lodge, and a cottage.   

There is a large walled garden which will be both ornamental and productive; including circa 700 sqm of productive beds; the rest of the walled garden will contain ornamental areas of long grass / wildflowers and fruit trees. A Hartley Greenhouse (8.5 m long x 4.5 m wide) and three cold frames are being constructed together with a service area comprising of Compost Bins and Utility Buildings for the storage of the garden machinery, tools, chemicals, and a potting shed.

Steps leading up from the courtyard in the Northwest corner lead to an area which was once a swimming pool but is now being treated as a wildlife haven and a home for newts. To the east of the main house, it is proposed to create two octagonal hedged spaces which will frame the front forecourt of the house, and which allow distant views over the immediate planting and lawns to the Dee Valley.

Amongst all these “project areas’ will be other planting beds, swathes of long grass with bulbs and wildflowers to link the individual areas seamlessly in a cohesive manner. Once the gardens are established then various shrub planting will take place where allowed within the surrounding woodland to include flowering shrubs and native trees. The gardens will also include a padel court, a small courtyard garden, and two cottage gardens.

The garden is quite spread out. The main drive is half a mile in length and contains trees, underplanted by bulbs. There is an orchard, formal and informal lawns, topiary and hedges, seasonal bulbs, and meadows. The wider estate contains a significant ancient woodland SSSI. There is an aspiration to hold a national plant collection, and possibly to open the garden occasionally in support of the local community.

We are looking for someone who might be an established Head Gardener, or one that has yet to show their full potential. They should have a level 3 horticultural qualification, very good experience, and who will hopefully stay with us long term. We are looking for someone energetic who will bring and share their own ideas. Someone who will help realise Lady Arabella’s designs, and who will be proactive in organising and managing the garden and wider areas.  The Head Gardener will report directly to the owners but will be empowered with responsibility to set the garden up, choose the necessary equipment, and in recruiting members of their team (with support as required). An interest or knowledge of ancient woodland management would be desirable.

The Head Gardener will be responsible for the entirety of the estate management but will initially concentrate on the garden areas under development. The Head Gardeners role will be hands on and will be supported by an Assistant Gardener, and possibly an Apprentice, and with contract and seasonal support (or additional staff) as may be required.

Package

Generous professional salary, negotiable for the right candidate to reflect experience, etc, but circa £38k - £48k. A very pretty house is provided locally.