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- Tasks: Lead and maintain the stunning gardens of a historic 543-acre estate.
- Company: Brocket Hall is a prestigious estate featuring golf courses, a luxury restaurant, and beautiful gardens.
- Benefits: Enjoy pension plans, training opportunities, career progression, and free access to golf and leisure facilities.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and make a real impact on the estate's horticultural beauty and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing high-profile gardens, strong leadership skills, and excellent plant knowledge required.
- Other info: Flexibility to work weekends and special events is essential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Brocket Hall is a historic and prestigious 543-acre estate, home to two championship golf courses, a luxury restaurant, and one of England’s finest stately homes. With heritage gardens, formal landscapes, woodlands, water features, and ornamental planting, the estate is a showcase of horticultural beauty and tradition. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Head Gardener to lead our dedicated gardening team and ensure the estate grounds remain immaculate and inspiring for our members, guests, and visitors.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day care, maintenance, and development of all estate gardens and grounds including formal gardens, borders, water features, and heritage landscapes.
- Design and implement seasonal planting schemes, manage ornamental beds, lawns, topiary, trees, and historic garden elements.
- Manage a small team of gardeners, apprentices, and seasonal staff – delegating tasks, providing training, and upholding high standards of work.
- Ensure all horticultural practices adhere to sustainability and environmental best practices.
- Oversee maintenance of tools, machinery, irrigation systems, and glasshouses.
- Monitor plant health and manage pest, disease, and weed control in a safe and effective manner.
- Work collaboratively with the wider estate team, including events, golf, and facilities, to coordinate garden presentation and logistics.
- Manage the horticultural budget, procurement of supplies, and liaise with suppliers and contractors where needed.
- Uphold and promote health & safety, COSHH, and risk assessment protocols.
Requirements
- Proven experience in managing extensive historic or high-profile gardens, ideally on a private estate or public venue.
- Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to inspire and manage a small team.
- Excellent plant knowledge, garden design sensibility, and practical hands-on gardening skills.
- Knowledge of garden machinery, irrigation systems, and sustainable practices.
- A proactive, creative, and detail-oriented approach.
- Flexibility to work across weekends, special events, or seasonal demands as needed.
Benefits
- Pension Plans
- Training & Development
- Strong career progression
- Enrolment in Brocket Hall staff benefits program
- Complimentary use of golf and leisure facilities
Head Estate Gardener employer: Brocket Hall Holding Limited
Contact Detail:
Brocket Hall Holding Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Estate Gardener
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Brocket Hall's unique horticultural features and history. Understanding the estate's specific gardens, landscapes, and their maintenance will help you demonstrate your passion and knowledge during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the horticultural field, especially those who have experience in managing historic gardens. Engaging with industry contacts can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to recommendations for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you've successfully managed a team. Be prepared to share examples of how you've inspired and trained others in a gardening context, as this is crucial for the Head Gardener position.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on sustainable gardening practices and innovations in horticulture. Being knowledgeable about current trends and techniques will not only enhance your application but also show your commitment to environmental best practices.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Estate Gardener
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in managing gardens, particularly in historic or high-profile settings. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific horticultural knowledge that aligns with the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for horticulture and detail your vision for maintaining and enhancing the estate's gardens. Mention any innovative ideas you have for seasonal planting schemes or sustainable practices.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on specific achievements in garden management, team leadership, and successful projects. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, such as improvements in plant health or team efficiency.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working with various teams, mention any past experiences where you successfully collaborated with other departments or stakeholders. This could include coordinating events or managing logistics related to garden presentation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Brocket Hall Holding Limited
✨Showcase Your Horticultural Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss your experience with various plant species and garden designs. Highlight any specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to manage extensive gardens, especially in a historic or high-profile setting.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since the role involves managing a team, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led a gardening team in the past. Discuss your approach to delegating tasks, providing training, and maintaining high standards of work.
✨Emphasise Sustainability Practices
Given the importance of sustainability in this role, be sure to talk about your knowledge of environmentally friendly gardening practices. Share any experiences you have with pest control, irrigation systems, and sustainable maintenance techniques.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect questions that assess your hands-on gardening skills and problem-solving abilities. You might be asked how you would handle specific challenges related to plant health or garden maintenance, so think through your responses ahead of time.
