Skilled Gardener

Planet Recruitment; Vale of White Horse; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a full-time Skilled Gardener to maintain formal gardens and a kitchen garden. The ideal candidate will possess broad horticultural knowledge and be responsible for planning, pest management, and general estate garden maintenance. The role values environmentally focused practices and offers a salary range of £32,000-£34,000 based on skills and experience, with paid overtime for weekend rota duties.

Qualifications

• Broad horticultural knowledge is essential.
• Experience with livestock is beneficial.
• Ability to manage pests and diseases seasonally.

Responsibilities

• Maintain formal borders around the garden.
• Grow vegetables from seed in the kitchen garden.
• Assist with general estate gardening and maintenance work.

Skills

Propagation of seedlings

Care of shrubs, flowers, and ornamental plants

Confidence in forward planning

Ability to work independently

Comfortable using and maintaining gardening power tools

Tools

Chainsaw

Hedge trimmers

Strimmers

Blowers

Job description

Skilled Gardener

We are looking for a full-time Skilled Gardener to join our clients small team and play a key role in maintaining the formal gardens and developing the kitchen garden, while also helping across the wider estate with general gardening and maintenance work.

The Role

• Primary responsibility for maintaining formal borders around the garden
• Growing vegetables from seed in the kitchen garden
• Planning planting and propagation 6 months ahead to ensure interest, flowering, and cropping throughout the year
• Managing pests and diseases seasonally
• Assisting with general estate gardening and maintenance work as required
• Participating in a weekend rota for watering and animal care (paid overtime)

Essential Qualities & Experience

Broad horticultural knowledge, particularly:

• Propagation of seedlings
• Care of shrubs, flowers, and ornamental plants
• Confidence in forward planning and seasonal thinking
• Ability to work independently and take responsibility for areas of the garden
• Physically capable of doing a hands‑on, sometimes demanding role
• Comfortable using and maintaining common gardening power tools: hedge trimmers, strimmers, blowers
• Chainsaw experience is a strong advantage
• Spraying certificates (essential)
• Livestock experience is beneficial, or a willingness to pitch in

Approach & Attitude

They are a very environmentally focused site, following no‑dig and regenerative principles. We value:

• Open‑minded, less conventional thinkers
• A willingness to experiment and try new approaches
• People who enjoy questioning "how it's always been done" and improving efficiency
• An interest in making work smarter, easier, and more sustainable

This role would suit either:

• A capable, experienced gardener happy to take ownership of their area
• A less experienced but enthusiastic gardener who is confident, motivated, and keen to rise to the challenge

Personal Attributes

• Positive, proactive attitude
• Enjoys working outdoors in all seasons
• Good communication skills – able to flag workload issues, suggest improvements, and share ideas before frustrations build
• Happy to work as part of a small, practical team

Hours & Pay

Monday-Thursday: 8:00am-5:00pm
(30 minutes paid break + 45 minutes unpaid)
Friday: 8:00am-3:45pm
Weekend rota: approx. every 4‑5 weeks (paid overtime)
Salary: £32,000-£34,000 depending on skills and experience

INDWARE

Planet Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. Planet Recruitment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

By applying for this role your details will be submitted to Planet Recruitment. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explains how we will use your information.

Only candidates with the relevant skills and experience will be contacted after application, if you do not hear back from us within 7 days you have unfortunately been unsuccessful in your application.

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the position