Estate Head Gardener North Oxfordshire

Thedirt; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading estate in North Oxfordshire is seeking a Head Gardener to maintain and enhance their diverse gardens, ensuring high aesthetic standards while promoting biodiversity. The ideal candidate will possess strong plant knowledge and team collaboration skills, with a passion for organic gardening practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years in a similar role at a Historic or Private Estate.
• Ability to work independently and self-motivate.

Responsibilities

• Care and maintenance of the gardens and grounds.
• Ensure high standards of garden aesthetics.
• Support the development and renovation of the gardens.

Skills

Team Player

Communication

Plant Knowledge

Gardening Skills

Education

Level 3 Horticultural Qualification

Tools

Ride-on Mowers

SWB/LWB Vans

Job description

Due to a recent change of ownership, the estate has gone through new direction, renovation, and redesign, with new landscape designs led by a very well regarded creative and innovative studio.

The gardens comprise of ornamental gardens, an orchard, a productive walled garden and glasshouse, cutting gardens, gravel garden, nuttery, wildflower meadows, pond and wetland, flowering tree and shrub walk; the overall character is naturalistic alongside formal hedging, lawns and topiary providing structure.

The estate is managed according to organic principles and the existing gardeners share the owners’ passion for regenerative methods of managing landscape, promoting biodiversity and exploring and developing methods to garden with sensitivity to nature and the wider landscape, whilst simultaneously ensuring that the ornamental gardens are kept to the highest standard.

As Head Gardener of the estate, your responsibilities will include the care and maintenance of the gardens and grounds, regularly perform gardening tasks, ensure high standards of garden aesthetics, support the development and renovation of the gardens and encourage progression of team members. Using your extensive plant knowledge you will care for a wide range of plant species, particularly those in the estate’s ornamental and cutting gardens

The candidate will be an excellent gardener, with level 3 horticultural qualification and minimum of three years in a similar level role at a Historic or Private Estate. You are a positive team player with strong communication skills and have excellent and demonstrable plant knowledge for high level border work, pruning, productive gardening and maintenance skills.

A full clean UK driving licence is required and skills in driving other ground vehicles eg. ride-on mowers, SWB/ LWB vans, manual and automatic operating systems – would be beneficial. You will be able to work as part of a small, close-knit team, but also demonstrate the ability to work independently and self-motivate to complete tasks to a high standard without supervision.

• Contract: Full time, hours Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:30. Flexibility will be required on occasion to support the private family, as needed.
• Location: Near Banbury, North Oxfordshire.
• Accommodation: No accommodation will be provided as this is a live-out position.
• Full job and application details can be found here .