Horticulturist

Web Recruit Ltd; Truro; On-site; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious botanical estate in Cornwall is seeking a skilled Horticulturist. The role involves comprehensive plant care, including propagation and maintenance, and mentoring students. The ideal candidate must have an RHS Level 3 qualification and demonstrate strong horticultural knowledge. This full-time position offers a salary of approximately £31,000 p.a., and various benefits including possible accommodation and health care plans.

Benefits

Possibility of accommodation to rent

21 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Health care cash back plan

Discount scheme with retailers

Qualifications

• Sound horticulture knowledge and ability to nurture plants.
• Previous gardening experience in a team-based role.
• To be organized, hardworking, and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for all aspects of plant care and gardening.
• Plant ordering and maintenance, including lawn care.
• Mentoring students and apprentices.

Skills

Horticultural knowledge

Plant nurturing

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

RHS Level 3 or National Diploma in Horticulture or equivalent

Tools

Pedestrian lawnmowers

Strimmers

Brush cutters

Job description

HORTICULTURIST

Salary £31,000 p.a., depending on experience

Approximately 8 miles from Truro, Cornwall

Application deadline: 12/12/2025

About Us

The Tregothnan Estate is a private family home with a world-renowned botanical garden. The Estate’s maintenance, gardening, forestry, and joinery employees support the core estate and manage the beautiful surroundings on the edge of the River Fal. The Estate is also a landlord with a substantial portfolio of residential, commercial, and agricultural properties.

The Estate produces tea (the first in the UK), honey and jam; delivers experiences including Garden and Tea Tasting Tours; and rents fabulous holiday accommodation, between the tea and the sea. The Estate is diverse in its activities and the job roles it provides. The teams have a great community spirit, the surroundings are inspiring, and the work is always interesting. Working at Tregothnan is being part of Cornwall’s heritage and its modern future.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Horticulturist, who will be responsible for all aspects of plant care and providing all-year-round gardening, including:

• Propagation, planting (including house flowers and plants/flowers for entering competitions), plant labelling, and plant care.
• Plant ordering.
• Pond planting and maintenance.
• Entering plants/flowers into competitions and attending these events.
• Logging plants onto a database, geo-mapping of the collection, and setting up a garden library of all plant records.
• Lawn care and mowing.
• Strimming, hedge trimming, pruning, and chainsaw work.
• Soil cultivation and weeding.
• Pest, disease, and weed control, including spraying.
• Path and drive maintenance and construction.
• Watering, including being on the rota to water plants in the tunnels in the summer months.
• Landscape construction.
• Conducting the Christmas flower count.
• Mentoring students and apprentices, in conjunction with the Head Gardener.

About You

You will need:

• An RHS Level 3 or National Diploma in Horticulture or equivalent.
• Sound horticulture knowledge, with a natural ability to nurture plants through their growth phase.
• Previous gardening experience within a team-based role.
• Experience of using pedestrian lawnmowers, e.g. cylinder and rotary.
• Experience in strimming and brush cutting.
• To be organised, conscientious, and demonstrate strong attention to detail.
• To be hardworking.
• The ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills, professional and positive attitude, polite, and good levels of personal presentation.
• To be passionate and competitive in terms of showing plants/flowers.
• A full UK driving licence and own transport, as we are in a rural location with no access to public transport.
• Please note, this role involves physical activity.

Benefits

• Salary circa £31,000 p.a., depending on experience.
• Possibility of accommodation to rent, depending on availability.
• 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7.45am to 4.15pm.
• 21 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays.
• Health care cash back plan.
• Discount scheme with high street and online retailers.
• Salary sacrifice homeware, tech, and cycle to work schemes.