Junior Gardener in Hereford

To commence Spring 2026, a private family estate seeks a junior gardener. This is a full-time (40 hours), 5-day-a-week position with the requirement to work some weekends as needed. The estate is a rural working farm; the city of Hereford is a fifteen-minute drive away. The successful candidate will work under the management of the Principles and the Estate’s Head Gardener, alongside other members of the wider estate team as required.

Applicants will need to have a strong interest and passion for flowering plants, kitchen gardens, and working outdoors. Basic horticultural knowledge is required, and all applicants must have at least two years’ experience working as a gardener or groundsman in a private estate setting or similar. This position offers younger or less experienced candidates an opportunity to gain further knowledge and career experience, as well as the chance to become part of a regionally important landscape restoration project. It is a live-out position with a salary of up to £30,000 gross per annum, depending on experience.

The successful candidate will be offered the position subject to a trial period (a minimum of three days on site), extensive reference checks (both written and verbal), advance DBS checks, and signing an NDA before the trial. Candidates will also need to provide evidence of qualifications held and hold a full, clean UK driver’s licence.

The estate is The Mynde, a Grade I listed property in Herefordshire. The role involves working alongside the Head Gardener and Principles to help restore approximately 7 acres of gardens, including a walled kitchen garden and arboretum. Restoration work on the gardens began in April 2025. Although good headway has been made, the gardens are still very much in an active state of re-structuring and creation. The new owners are passionate about restoring the gardens back to their former glory with the assistance of a dynamic and cohesive gardening team. Candidates should only apply if they are genuinely looking for longevity in a role (3+ years) and the chance to embed themselves in a team.

Responsibilities:

• Hard-working, flexible, with a positive attitude
• Self-motivated, energetic, team player
• Physically fit and strong, comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Happy working under the instruction of the Head Gardener and the creative instruction of their Principles
• Groundsman jobs, such as mowing, clearing leaf litter, watering, hedge trimming
• Weeding
• Maintaining composting systems
• Propagation and cultivation of plants as instructed
• Collection of gardening equipment or gardening supplies
• Parkland maintenance
• Upkeep of the paths and driveways inside the curtilage of the house
• Cultivation and harvesting of all vegetables and fruit
• Cutting and delivering cut flowers for the house as instructed
• Watering houseplants
• Assisting with seasonal decorations for the house which require plant harvesting (e.g. Christmas trees, mistletoe, and holly at Christmas)
• Errands
• House checks as instructed
• Farm activities
• Projects relating to landscape restoration
• Pool maintenance when cover is needed

Requirements:

• Fluent English
• Clean UK driver’s license and confident driver
• Past gardening experience in a private estate setting or similar
• Qualification: RHS Level 2 or equivalent experience
• Basic knowledge of plants and gardening techniques
• Passion for organic gardening, nature, and the outdoors
• Good attention to detail and timekeeping
• Experience handling motorised or petrol-fuelled gardening equipment such as hedge cutters, strimmers, leaf blowers, power washers, lawn mowers
• Team player
• Experience driving tractors, trailers, and ride-on lawnmowers is preferable but not essential

Working schedule and times:

• Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm. Adjustments are made to working hours in winter to allow for limited daylight.
• Candidates will be required to work some weekend days or weekends throughout the year, and on these occasions, their working hours or days off may differ.
• Candidates will be expected to take joint responsibility for any weekend watering that may be required in the case of a heat wave or very hot weather.
• 29 days holiday (including bank holidays).

The Wider Estate:

The property extends to approximately 1200 acres. The working farm is a mix of pasture, arable, livestock, and woodland. There is an expectation that the successful applicant will be happy to collaborate on wider estate projects on an ad hoc basis when additional manpower is needed. The owners are keen on developing a solely organic environment. Applicants should only apply if they are happy working alongside organic gardening practices and feel comfortable, open-minded, and excited by implementing innovative and creative solutions, whether that be for pest control or soil health.