Senior Gardener

Horticulture Jobs, brought to you by HortWeek; Bath; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Belcombe Court is seeking a senior gardener to join a small, close‑knit team and help shape the garden’s next chapter. The role focuses on borders, seasonal planting, and on‑site propagation, with emphasis on organic methods and sustainability.

You will manage the kitchen and cutting gardens, glasshouse, and broader grounds, maintaining high standards and collaborating with the team. A valid full driving licence is required.

Qualifications

• RHS Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
• 3–5 years post‑qualification experience in a garden of similar standing.
• Strong plant identification skills with herbaceous perennials and mixed borders.

Responsibilities

• Improve borders with new planting ideas and year‑round interest.
• Manage pot and container displays, kitchen and cutting gardens, glasshouse and propagation.
• Grow vegetables from seed and manage organic weed/pest control, composting and mulching.
• Maintain wider garden to a high standard, assist with lawn mowing and hedge cutting.

Skills

Plant identification

Team communications

Health and safety awareness

Education

RHS Level 3 qualification or equivalent

Job description

Senior Gardener – Belcombe Court

Employer: Belcombe Court

Location: Bath

Salary: £34,000 to £40,000

Hours: Full Time

Place Of Work: Onsite

Closing date: 31 October 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Function: Arboriculturist Jobs, Gardening Jobs, Grower Jobs, Horticulture

Sector: Countryside, Parks & Open Space, Groundskeeping & Maintenance, Growing

Seniority: Manager

Are you a gardener with an artist’s eye?

Belcombe Court is looking for a senior gardener with real creative flair to join our small, close-knit team. Winner of the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Judges’ Prize 2024, and the inspiration behind the book A Garden Love Story (Pavilion/HarperCollins), our garden is a special place, and we’re looking for someone to help shape its next chapter.

The role

You’ll be responsible for improving our borders, bringing fresh ideas for planting combinations, colour, texture and year‑round interest, and then rolling up your sleeves to bring them to life. Your responsibilities will also include our pot and container displays, the kitchen garden and cutting garden, the glasshouse, and propagation, including raising our vegetables from seed.

We garden organically and as sustainably as we can, so you’ll manage weeds and pests by organic methods, look after our composting and mulching, and coppice on site to produce our own plant supports and materials. Alongside this, you’ll help maintain the wider garden to the high standard it’s known for, working closely with the rest of the team and contributing to lawn mowing and hedge cutting. The garden and scope of work are physically demanding, so a good level of fitness is essential.

About You

You’ll hold an RHS Level 3 qualification or equivalent, with three to five years’ post‑qualification experience in a garden of similar standing. You’ll combine excellent plant identification skills with significant practical experience, particularly of herbaceous perennials and mixed borders, productive growing, glasshouse management and propagation, and you’ll have a real flair for pot planting.

You’ll share our commitment to organic, sustainable gardening, and bring a sound understanding of health and safety legislation and good practice, with experience of putting it into action. A good communicator with a positive, can‑do attitude, you’ll enjoy working as part of a team and have the confidence to share ideas and take ownership of projects. A full driving licence is required.

What We Offer

A full-time position, five days a week, 8am–5pm, with a salary of £34,000 to £40,000 depending on experience, standard holiday allowance and a pension contribution. Please note, no accommodation is available with this role. Above all, the chance to work in an award‑winning garden with genuine freedom to experiment and see your ideas take root.