Senior Gardener

Overview

An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for a talented Head Gardener to join a stunning private garden based in Dorset on a full-time permanent basis. This position will suit an experienced Senior Gardener looking to take the next step in their career, or an existing hands-on Head Gardener with a desire to take on a large and diverse garden in order to utilise their full horticultural skill set.

The wider estate consists of farmland, a large in-hand farming operation, woodland, conservation projects and scheduled parks, plus the formal gardens; it is also home to a Grade I listed property with a rich history and has been home to the family for over 400 years. The gardens are very much a family-curated open space that have been slowly adapted over the years by each principal to their own style, preferences, and personal tastes.

Surrounding the property are 20-acres of formal and informal gardens, consisting of expansive lawns, traditional mound garden providing natural viewing platforms, large herbaceous borders as well as a grass tennis court. Also within the grounds is a chalk stream garden, a walnut and apple orchard, and a wonderful kitchen garden that grows a wide variety of fruit and vegetables for the main house as well as local charities. The owners are strong advocates for promoting wildlife and biodiversity and in the last 3 years, areas of wildflower meadows have continued to increase.

The garden is open to the public one day a week throughout the spring and summer months as well as for other charitable openings; therefore, candidates must be happy to act as an ambassador for the garden and answer any horticultural related questions or queries that visitors may have.

The Head Gardener will oversee all finer horticultural aspects of the garden and will be supported by a small team of gardeners and grounds workers.

Candidates must be/have:

• Academic horticultural qualifications and experience in horticulturally diverse gardens
• A good level of physical fitness
• Excellent plant identification and management skills, with practical experience with the use and basic maintenance of a full range of garden machinery
• A passionate, energetic, and experienced hands-on professional with an ability to manage others including part time gardeners, as well as another Gardener
• A team player, with excellent communication skills

Hours

Full time, Monday - Friday.

A degree of flexibility is required depending on the needs of the Principal and the season.

Location

Near Wimborne, Dorset.

Salary

38,000, depending on experience

Job ref

CP616 Working Head Gardener near Wimborne.