Craft Gardener

EF Education First / Hult; Dacorum; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days paid holiday including bank

Staff meals on duty

On-site gym & pool access

Company pension scheme

Healthcare schemes

Free on-site parking

Job summary

EF Education First / Hult seeks a Craft Gardener for Ashridge House to lead seasonal garden work, manage propagation, and oversee nursery production in historic surroundings. You’ll mentor staff and ensure sustainable practices across a Grade II* listed site.

The role requires 3-5 years of supervisory experience, horticultural expertise, and a chainsaw licence. It is a full-time, on-site position with weekend rotation at Ashridge House in Hertfordshire.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' experience in a supervisory role within a historic garden open to the public.
• Full driving licence required.
• Excellent horticultural knowledge, including glasshouse propagation.
• Chainsaw licence CS30/31/32 required.
• Confident in operating and maintaining garden machinery.
• Experience in people management, training and mentoring.
• Understanding of H&S and COSHH, and risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Prioritise and implement seasonal maintenance of the Formal Gardens (beds, borders, lawns, trees, hedges, shrubs, roses).
• Assist in organising landscaping and planting schemes.
• Operate and maintain garden tools, machinery, and vehicles including hired equipment.
• Ensure sustainable irrigation system management.
• Coordinate propagation in glasshouses and coldframes.
• Manage nursery stock propagation and liaise with suppliers; maintain records.
• Ensure safe, appropriate use of pesticides and herbicides with record keeping.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Full driving licence

Horticultural knowledge

Glasshouse propagation

Chainsaw licence CS30/31/32

People management

H&S and COSHH awareness

Tools

Garden machinery operation

Job description

Job Title: Craft Gardener
Location: Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS
Reports to: Head Gardener
Shifts: 40 hours per week, including weekend rotation

The Opportunity

Described as the 'best office at Ashridge' by our Garden’s team, we are looking for a passionate and creative Gardener to join us as Craft Gardener in our Grade II* listed Garden. In this role you must have a passion for horticulture and a love for historic gardens, to nurture and preserve this beautiful Repton designed ‘Garden of Gardens’.

We're looking for an experienced gardener with creative flair, strong leadership skills, and a deep respect for our heritage and the environment. This opportunity invites you to share your knowledge and experience with our team, to support their growth and development.

As part of our dedicated and passionate team, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing this RHS Partner Garden, delighting visitors and clients throughout the year.

This is a hands-on, fast-paced, and physically active role — ideal for a team player who leads by example.

What does the role involve?

• - - Prioritisation and implementation of seasonal maintenance of the Formal Gardens, (seasonal bedding, herbaceous borders, lawns, including trees, hedges, shrubs, roses)
• - - Assist in organising and carrying out landscaping and planting schemes
• - - Use and maintenance of garden tools, machinery and vehicles as necessary, including hired machinery
• - - Ensure the irrigation systems are managed sustainably
• - - Coordinate the general maintenance of, and propagation in the glasshouses and coldframes
• - - Manage the propagation and cultivation nursery stock (herbaceous and annual plants). Including liaison with suppliers and record keeping
• - - The appropriate, timely and safe use of pesticides & herbicides including record keeping

Who are you?

• - - 3-5 years' experience in a supervisoryrole within a historic garden open to the public
• - - Full driving licence
• - - Excellent horticultural knowledge and experience - including glasshouse propagation
• - - Chainsaw licence CS30/31/32
• - - Confident in operating/maintaining garden machinery
• - - People management experience – training/coaching/mentoring and developing people
• - - Flexible/adaptable and able to drive change
• - - Understanding of H&S and COSHH legislation and experience of writing risk assessments

Employee Benefits/Perks

• - - 25 days paid holiday each year plus bank holidays
• - - Staff meals whilst on duty
• - - Free access to onsite gym and pool
• - - Access to the company pension scheme and healthcare schemes
• - - Free on-site parking

About Ashridge

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the 190 acres of gardens at Ashridge are part of a Grade II* registered landscape. Ashridge House is home to EF Corporate Education – a world class leader in providing education around the world. The magnificent Grade 1 listed house dates back 800 years is considered one of the finest event venues in the UK for weddings, conferences and afternoon teas.

The gardens are a key part of the visitor experience, with something to take your breath away around every corner, from formal terraces, lawns, rosary and mowed labyrinth to tree lined avenues. The gardens are managed to encourage biodiversity and sustainability of our natural environment, a core part of Ashridge’s commitment to the conservation of these historic gardens.

When you join Ashridge House, you join a community from unique backgrounds, all united by pursuing excellence in service and hospitality. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. Ashridge House is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, 1gender, age, religion, caste, parental status, disability, identity, experience, and everything else that makes you unique.