Gardener

ECG Limited; West Suffolk; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits for a skilled Gardener to join a private estate in the picturesque North Cotswolds. This role involves maintaining over 500 acres of diverse landscapes, including traditional gardens, orchards, and parkland, while contributing to the estate's vision of enhancing biodiversity. The ideal candidate will possess a strong horticultural background, estate maintenance skills, and experience with various machinery. Join a dedicated team and take pride in cultivating a beautiful environment, while enjoying the benefits of working in a stunning natural setting. If you have a passion for gardening and estate management, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in estate gardening and maintenance is essential.
• Industry certifications in chainsaw and spraying are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage estate grounds using various gardening machinery.
• Perform practical horticultural tasks and general property maintenance.
• Adhere to health and safety requirements while working.

Skills

Horticultural knowledge

Estate maintenance skills

Machinery operation

General building maintenance

Chainsaw certification (CS30/CS31)

PA1/PA6 spraying certification

Tools

Mowers

Tractor implements

Strimmers

Hedge cutters

Blowers

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

360 excavators

Telehandlers

Job description

An exciting opportunity has become available for a confident and experienced Gardener to join a private estate in the North Cotswolds due to the retirement of a team member.

The estate comprises traditional parkland, fields and paths, a kitchen and cut flower garden, lawns, ponds, orchards, and an arboretum surrounding a large Grade II listed hall and various estate properties. The vision for the estate over the coming years is to transition its current farming practices towards natural wildflower-rich fields, meadows, hedgerows, and new woodlands and wetlands, with the objective of increasing flora and fauna biodiversity. The principles are keen to move towards self-sufficiency, sourcing produce from the kitchen garden, orchards, and foraging from the wider estate.

The owners are seeking a dedicated and skilled Gardener with previous experience in a similar role, maintaining an estate to the highest standards. The successful applicant will be part of a team managing over 500 acres, responsible for maintaining the gardens, parkland, and estate infrastructure, as well as supporting general maintenance activities. A well-rounded skill set is required, including horticultural knowledge, estate maintenance skills, and experience operating a variety of machinery.

Industry certifications, such as chainsaw (CS30/CS31) and PA1/PA6 spraying, would be advantageous. Additional desirable skills include holding machinery tickets for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, 360 excavators, telehandlers, and PA1/PA6 spraying. Experience in general building and property maintenance would also be beneficial. Applicants should take pride in their work and demonstrate a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for estate management.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities for this role include managing the estate grounds using various mowers, tractor implements, strimmers, hedge cutters, and blowers. Practical horticultural tasks will involve maintaining fruit trees, shrubs, and climbers, as well as caring for beds and borders through cutting back, staking, composting, watering, and feeding. The role also includes assisting with general estate duties, such as keeping areas tidy, processing firewood for the house, cleaning estate vehicles, and helping with the care of estate chickens. General property maintenance will be required, including repairs to paved areas, drives, minor building repairs, and upkeep of estate structures. The candidate must also adhere to health and safety requirements, including working at height, manual handling, working around water, and operating machinery.

SALARY: £28,000 DOE

LOCATION: North Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

JOB No: EC67073

If this vacancy is of interest, please click ‘Apply for job’ below or contact Jay Rimell on 01233 733510 or email [e-mail].

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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this 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 vacancy has been unsuccessful.