Skilled Gardener

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Skilled Gardener to join a large, semi-rural estate near Edinburgh. Currently, the historic home and grounds are open to the public and it is the intention of the owners to eventually open the walled gardens, which have featured in both Country Life and Gardens Illustrated, for pre-booked tours and very occasional small events.

Encompassed within 150 acres of grounds, the main house is surrounded by extensive formal lawns which also feature the large driveway and an 18th Century stone pond. The naturalistic gardens contain a spring garden and a large walled garden which previously featured as a nursery on the estate. It has now been restored and re-designed by the family and there are extensive mixed shrub borders, mature hedges, a greenhouse, mature and young trees all of which are divided by well-maintained gravel pathways. Due to the sheer size of the walled garden, this will be the primary area the successful candidate will work in on this estate.

Our client seeks a Skilled Gardener to help maintain the gardens on a year-round basis which are also under constant renovation. They will be reporting into the Head Gardener who will continue to manage the gardens on a part time basis. The successful applicants will be a keen plantsperson and have a good understanding of basic horticultural techniques.  The gardens have been kept to an incredibly high standard and the owner wishes for the quality of work to remain at a high horticultural standard.

Applicants should be confident working independently, physically fit, comfortable working at heights and have a ‘can do’ attitude.  Aa horticultural qualification would be advantageous and / or previous experience working in a similar role. As such, excellent plant knowledge and technical skills are essential for this position. A full, clean UK driving license, previous experience with a wide range of gardening machinery and PA1/PA6 spraying certification are a requirement for this position. Chainsaw certification is advantageous for this role and some flexibility is needed, as occasional ‘other duties’ may be required such as looking after the client’s dogs. 

The role is offered with a beautiful two-bedroom garden cottage on site, with rent and rates being paid for by the client. Due to the proximity to the main property and its walled garden, it will be expected that the Skilled Gardener will need to provide an awareness of security for the owners and the wider estate.

The hours of work for this position are 8.30am-4.30pm Monday-Thursday and 8.30am-3.30pm on Fridays with a half an hour paid break and two fifteen-minute unpaid breaks. On weekends, it is expected that the successful candidate will be required to water the greenhouse.  

SALARY:        £28,000 + Accommodation

LOCATION:  Near Edinburgh  

JOB No:          EC62717

If this Skilled Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Skilled Gardener vacancy.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one.  Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this Skilled Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.