Part Time Experienced Gardener
From English Country Gardeners
Working For: English Country Gardeners
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a part-time Experienced Gardener to maintain and assist in the future development of an established large country garden to a high horticultural standard near Etchingham, East Sussex. This position is offered to self-employed skilled gardeners in the locality, on the basis of 3 days per week to focus on the finer horticultural aspects of the garden.
This Historic property is set within a 60-acre estate with 4-acres of formal Georgian gardens. Since the estate has been purchased, much work has been completed to restore the space into an elegant and productive garden. The walled garden contains two large glasshouses, an organic kitchen garden with fruit cage, mature orchard, rose gardens, a pleached lime tree walk and a large herbaceous border. Manicured hedging and Italian cypress form an Italian style garden and pool garden, all of which are framed into a series of rooms by extensive beech and yew hedging. Beyond the walls there are ericaceous beds of azalea, camellia and rhododendron studded with formally clipped topiaries and holly hedging. There is also mature woodland, potted planting, hen house and beehives.
The Experienced Gardener will be required to be organised, lead and motivate an experienced Groundsperson and Garden Assistant who have a longstanding relationship with the garden. General maintenance duties will include but are not limited to pruning, propagating, weeding, edging, crop rotation, seasonal mulch and compost management. From time to time heavier work may be carried out by external contractors, therefore previous experience in managing contractors will be advantageous for prospective candidates. Experience in the use and maintenance of a wide range of gardening machinery as well as PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates, and a chainsaw certification are desirable for this position. The house is equipped with machinery, which the gardener should be capable of maintaining between services.
Our client seeks an experienced gardener to help maintain the gardens on a year-round basis following the annual calendar. Applicants will possess an academic horticultural qualification, such as an RHS level 2 or equivalent, combined with extensive experience working in a similar role within a private estate setting. As such, excellent plant knowledge and technical skills are essential for this position with experience in compost management, propagation, spraying, weeding and rejuvenating beds. A self-motivated, organised individual with a self-start attitude and proven track record of managing a large mature English country garden, with a strong work ethic and willingness to work to consistently high standards are qualities which are essential for this role. Candidates will be flexible and willing to extend their duties where needed. As such, this is a physically demanding position which requires a fit and strong individual who is comfortable working in all weathers.
The preferred working days are Monday, Thursday and Friday; however the owners are flexible with this for the right candidate, with working hours dependent on the season. Applicants should live within commuting distance of the vacancy and have a full driving licence with their own transport.
As this role is based within a private estate setting, applicants must be loyal and trustworthy, and would be expected to exercise the utmost discretion at all times to respect the privacy of the owners. Please note, the successful candidate with be offered subject to extensive reference checks, DBS check and required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
SALARY: Up to £200 per day DOE (3 days per week)
LOCATION: Etchingham, East Sussex
JOB No: EC63694
If this Part Time Experienced Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sophie Sharpe on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk.
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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Part Time Experienced 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 Part Time Experienced Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.