Senior Gardener

Our client’s garden is an incredible example of an Arts and Crafts Garden with its original layout. They are looking for an experienced and knowledgeable gardener to play a leading role and the position would suit a time served hands-on gardener with experience at senior level. The position is full time and permanent and is based in a beautiful part of the Cotswolds near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

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 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 gardens follow the Arts and Crafts style of a garden of rooms with topiary, mixed herbaceous borders, kitchen garden, wild garden, wildflower meadow, cherry orchard, ornamental tree arboretum, parterre, shrub border, native and exotic tree species, manicured lawn and climbing wisteria. It is an exciting garden to work in as the garden is ever evolving, with several projects on the horizon.

The garden is open to the public from May to the end of September and part of the role is to carry out the occasional garden tour. The garden was recently featured on Gardeners’ World and the owners hold lecture days at the property, where they invite prominent people in the gardening world from gardeners such as Troy Scott-Smith, Pippa Greenwood and Arthur Parkinson to garden historians such as Todd Longstaffe-Gowan to garden designers such as Andy Sturgeon, James Alexander-Sinclair and Jinny Blom. This is an amazing opportunity for the Senior Gardener to be involved with these events and to interact with all these incredible guests.

The owners organise a gardeners and volunteers’ outings to visit other gardens for inspiration and they also support attending training courses to further enhance the gardener’s knowledge in line with the position.  

The Senior Gardener will work closely with the owners who are hands on in the garden and a team of two part-time gardeners, part time groundsperson, and 4 volunteers. A requirement therefore exists for the new Senior Gardener to take the lead on garden management and development, working collaboratively with the owners to take the garden forward.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive hands-on garden management experience on private estates.  They must also have a good knowledge of seasonal horticultural practices, species-specific pruning techniques and the ability to work in harmony as part of a team promoting a positive and effective working environment.  Experience of creating and maintaining topiary, mixed border, lawns, kitchen gardening and plant propagation skills are all essential.  Applicants must also be competent with the operation and basic maintenance of a wide range of garden machinery and equipment with spray certificates (PA1/PA6) desirable.  This is a very rewarding hands-on role that requires dedication, excellent time and garden management skills and good physical fitness.

SALARY:        Circa £35,000 DOE

LOCATION:  Cirencester, Gloucestershire

JOB No:          EC62547

If this Senior Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Senior 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 Senior Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.