Senior Gardener in Oxford

Location: Garsington Manor, Oxfordshire

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent

Reports to: Head Gardener

Salary: £27-35K (DOE and if accommodation required).

Role Overview

Garsington Manor, an historically important Bloomsbury linked garden, has an Italian influence and is currently being restored and developed in conjunction with the owners and garden designers. The garden, which is open to the public for regular village events and occasional charity visits, has a substantial walled cutting parterre, box and yew topiary and hedging, herbaceous borders, fine lawns, an orchard, several spring fed ponds, and vintage greenhouses. It is managed organically with a constant focus on increasing biodiversity and sustainability. We seek an experienced Senior Gardener with a strong background in grounds maintenance, fine lawncare, and hedge management as well as solid horticultural skills to help care for and enhance our historic, Grade II listed garden and grounds and supervise junior grounds staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Grounds Maintenance & Presentation

• Maintain lawns, grassed areas, and meadows to a consistently high standard, including mowing, edging, scarifying, aeration, feeding, and top-dressing.
• Manage the cutting, shaping, and long-term health of formal and informal hedges, topiary, and boundary planting.
• Maintain paths, terraces, steps, and other hard landscape features, ensuring they are safe, clean, and well-presented.
• Ensure all garden and grounds areas are kept tidy, organised, and visually exemplary at all times.

• Undertake skilled horticultural work including pruning, planting, propagation, and soil improvement.
• Support seasonal planting schemes and garden development projects as directed by the Head Gardener.
• Monitor plant health, identifying pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies, and take appropriate action.

• Operate, maintain, and carry out basic servicing of grounds maintenance machinery, including mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, and tractors (where appropriate).
• Ensure tools and equipment are used safely and stored correctly.
• Assist in implementing and adhering to health and safety policies and risk assessments.

• Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to junior gardeners.
• Monitor and advise contractors working onsite.
• Assist with task planning, prioritising grounds maintenance requirements throughout the year.
• Promote high standards of workmanship, efficiency, and safe working practices.

• Prepare lawns and grounds for events, private functions, and public visits.
• Respond flexibly to seasonal demands and weather-related priorities.

Skills & Experience Required

• Substantial experience in grounds maintenance within a formal garden, estate, or similar high-standard environment.
• Strong practical knowledge of fine turf management and hedge cutting techniques.
• Confident operation of grounds maintenance machinery.
• Experience supervising staff or leading tasks is highly desirable.
• Relevant horticultural qualification (RHS Level 2 or 3 or equivalent) preferred.
• PA1/PA6 or chainsaw certification an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Dynamic attitude and able to be flexible in response to competing demands and priorities.
• Meticulous attention to detail and pride in presentation.
• Physically fit and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Reliable, adaptable, and proactive.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to maintaining historic landscapes.
• Comfortable working in a team and also individually.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work on a prestigious historic estate with exceptional grounds.
• A supportive, professional gardening team.
• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• One bedroom, private accommodation may be available on site.