Head Estate Gardener

Brocket Hall Holding Limited; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Brocket Hall, a prestigious estate, seeks a skilled Head Gardener to lead the gardening team. Responsibilities include managing extensive gardens, designing planting schemes, and ensuring sustainability. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and extensive gardening knowledge, contributing to the estate's legacy.

Benefits

Pension Plans

Training & Development

Strong career progression

Complimentary use of golf and leisure facilities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing extensive historic or high-profile gardens.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Excellent plant knowledge and practical gardening skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the care, maintenance, and development of estate gardens.
• Manage a small team of gardeners and uphold high work standards.
• Ensure adherence to sustainability practices.

Skills

Leadership

Plant Knowledge

Garden Design

Hands-on Gardening Skills

Organisational Skills

Tools

Garden Machinery

Irrigation Systems

Job description

Brocket Hall is a historic and prestigious 543-acre estate, home to two championship golf courses, a luxury restaurant, and one of England’s finest stately homes. With heritage gardens, formal landscapes, woodlands, water features, and ornamental planting, the estate is a showcase of horticultural beauty and tradition.

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Head Gardener to lead our dedicated gardening team and ensure the estate grounds remain immaculate and inspiring for our members, guests, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day care, maintenance, and development of all estate gardens and grounds including formal gardens, borders, water features, and heritage landscapes.
• Design and implement seasonal planting schemes, manage ornamental beds, lawns, topiary, trees, and historic garden elements.
• Manage a small team of gardeners, apprentices, and seasonal staff – delegating tasks, providing training, and upholding high standards of work.
• Ensure all horticultural practices adhere to sustainability and environmental best practices.
• Oversee maintenance of tools, machinery, irrigation systems, and glasshouses.
• Monitor plant health and manage pest, disease, and weed control in a safe and effective manner.
• Work collaboratively with the wider estate team, including events, golf, and facilities, to coordinate garden presentation and logistics.
• Manage the horticultural budget, procurement of supplies, and liaise with suppliers and contractors where needed.
• Uphold and promote health & safety, COSHH, and risk assessment protocols.

• Proven experience in managing extensive historic or high-profile gardens, ideally on a private estate or public venue.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to inspire and manage a small team.
• Excellent plant knowledge, garden design sensibility, and practical hands-on gardening skills.
• Knowledge of garden machinery, irrigation systems, and sustainable practices.
• A proactive, creative, and detail-oriented approach.
• Flexibility to work across weekends, special events, or seasonal demands as needed

• Pension Plans
• Training & Development
• Strong career progression
• Enrolment in Brocket Hall staff benefits program
• Complimentary use of golf and leisure facilities