Sole Gardener

ECG Limited; Letchworth; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A horticultural services company in Hertfordshire is looking for an experienced Sole Gardener to care for two beautiful gardens. The role offers a chance to develop gardens with unique features, including historic planting schemes and newly planted woodland. Candidates should possess strong horticultural knowledge, relevant certificates, and a full driving licence. This full-time position emphasizes autonomy and pride in maintaining exceptional spaces.

Qualifications

• Proven experience maintaining large gardens, estates, or woodlands.
• Strong horticultural knowledge and practical skills.
• Relevant spraying certificates (PA1 & PA6).

Responsibilities

• Caring for and developing both gardens to a high standard.
• Establishing and maintaining newly planted woodland.
• Contributing ideas to ongoing development and restoration of the gardens.

Skills

Horticultural knowledge

Experience in maintaining large gardens

Self-motivation

Tools

Spraying certificates (PA1 & PA6)

Driving licence

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Sole Gardener to take responsibility for two gardens within a wider farm estate in Hertfordshire. This is a single-handed role for a hands-on individual with strong horticultural skills and a passion for developing and enhancing beautiful spaces. The position has become available due to the retirement of the previous gardener, leaving a well-maintained garden ready for the next stage of its development.

The role offers a unique opportunity to care for two exceptional gardens within a private estate. The first is a charming 3-acre garden with mature trees and hedges, an orchard, ornamental shrubs, and a tranquil riverside setting. A newly planted woodland offers the chance to shape its future and guide it into maturity over the coming years. Just 200 yards away lies the second garden, a 6-acre space of character and history designed by the renowned Gertrude Jekyll, featuring sweeping lawns, flower beds, yew hedging, and a river weaving through the landscape. This historic garden provides variety and inspiration, with established planting schemes that have been admired for generations.

The working week is shared between both gardens, providing variety and continuity as part of the same estate.

Responsibilities

• Caring for and developing both gardens to a high standard, including flower beds, lawns, trees, hedges, and woodland areas
• Establishing and maintaining newly planted woodland, managing young saplings and weeds
• Wider estate duties such as river care, jet washing, sanding garden furniture, and general upkeep around the grounds
• Work autonomously across the two sites and contribute ideas to ongoing development and restoration of the gardens

Qualifications

• Proven experience maintaining large gardens, estates, or woodlands
• Strong horticultural knowledge and practical skills
• Relevant spraying certificates (PA1 & PA6)
• Full driving licence

Role Details

This is a full-time, live-out position working Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, with flexibility on start and finish times. The owners are seeking a long-term gardener who can take pride in their work and shape the gardens for years to come. The role is physically demanding and requires self-motivation and autonomy, with variety across two different but complementary gardens.

SALARY: £35,000

LOCATION: Hertfordshire

JOB No: EC69510

How to apply

If this Sole Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply for the job or contact the caller for more information. Note that this role is a live job posting and follow-up communications will be handled as part of the recruitment process.

Notes

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