Head Gardener

ECG Limited; Lower Swell; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier retirement village near Lower Swell is seeking a Head Gardener to lead and maintain its exceptional outdoor spaces. In this role, you will ensure a vibrant garden environment, overseeing tasks such as pruning, planting, and pest management. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in grounds management, strong horticultural knowledge, and practical skills with garden machinery. Offering a salary of circa £36,000, this position suits a detail-oriented professional who enjoys a dynamic work setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in garden or grounds management, preferably in a senior role.
• Strong horticultural knowledge covering lawns, borders, shrubs, and trees.
• Practical experience with garden machinery; chainsaw and spraying certificates preferred.

Responsibilities

• Regular inspections of the gardens.
• Pruning, hedge trimming, planting, and seasonal maintenance.
• Pest and weed management.

Skills

Garden or grounds management experience

Horticultural knowledge

Practical experience with garden machinery

Knowledge of health and safety procedures

Attention to detail

Job description

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to join a premier retirement village set within beautiful and thoughtfully maintained grounds in the heart of the Cotswolds. The gardens play a central role in providing residents with a safe, tranquil, and therapeutic environment, and the Home is now seeking a Head Gardener to lead and develop these exceptional outdoor spaces.

The Head Gardener will oversee a landscape that combines formal areas with sweeping lawns, mature trees, and yews, alongside beautifully designed beds and borders that provide year-round interest. The gardens feature elegant water features and ponds, as well as charming pathways and a picturesque parterre that adds structure and symmetry to the grounds. This role offers the opportunity to ensure the gardens remain vibrant, inviting, and reflective of the Home’s distinguished character, while shaping the overall aesthetic and horticultural excellence of the estate.

The successful candidate will work closely with the General Manager and Deputy Manager, as well as any additional garden staff, to ensure the gardens are beautifully presented year‑round, safe, and fully accessible to residents. Responsibilities will include regular inspections, pruning, hedge trimming, planting, seasonal maintenance, pest and weed management, and maintaining garden equipment to a high standard. The role will also involve overseeing minor maintenance of gutters, drains, and external structures, ensuring compliance with health and safety standard, and external security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Regular inspections of the gardens.
• Pruning, hedge trimming, planting, and seasonal maintenance.
• Pest and weed management.
• Maintaining garden equipment to a high standard.
• Overseeing minor maintenance of gutters, drains, and external structures.
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety standards and external security protocols.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in garden or grounds management, preferably in a senior or supervisory role.
• Strong horticultural knowledge covering lawns, borders, shrubs, trees, and general planting schemes.
• Practical experience with garden machinery; chainsaw and spraying certificates preferred.
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures and risk assessments.
• Proactive, energetic, flexible approach.
• Excellent attention to detail and pride in maintaining the highest standards.

This position is ideal for a motivated, detail‑oriented, proactive gardener who enjoys working in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same.

The ideal applicant will be able to work independently, led by example, and demonstrate excellent attention to detail and pride in maintaining the highest standards.

Location & Salary

LOCATION: Cotswolds – Near Lower Swell

SALARY: circa £36,000

JOB No: EC70961

If this Head Gardener 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 role. 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.

englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

We are proud to work with:

• Professional Gardeners’ Guild
• RHS
• WFGA – offering the WRAGs Scheme
• Arne Maynard Garden Design
• Historic Houses
• the HBG Training Programme

Tagged as: head gardener, Lower Swell