The Englefield Estate comprises a diverse range of rural enterprises at the heart of which lies Englefield House, home of the Benyon family.
Our Purpose is to deliver enduring economic, social, and environmental outcomes, which secure the long-term future of the estate. The mainly private nine-acre, nineteenth century ‘Italian’ garden is surrounded by a twentieth century woodland garden. Stone balustrades and staircases enclose the lower terrace and a children’s garden. The garden is enclosed by a deer park with magnificent views over the lake and surrounding countryside. There is also a walled kitchen garden producing a range of vegetables, fruit and flowers. The gardens are open to visitors every Monday throughout the year and is the venue for various events and filming.
Englefield has a no-smoking at work policy.
Role summary:
A hands-on skilled gardener who will be working in a small gardening team to achieve high standards of management of the gardens thus enabling the family to enjoy their home.
We are seeking a professional individual with practical experience to join our team. The successful candidate will support our gardens team in maintaining the gardens and grounds to a high standard. This will include the planting and maintenance of hedges, trees, shrubs, herbaceous boarders, pruning, mowing, strimming and blowing leaves. You may also work with volunteers, work experience students and assist during Englefield Estate’s annual Schools Days and other events. The successful applicant will be required to have a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
The post holder shall undertake the following:
- Support the Head Gardener and gardens team in developing and maintaining the gardens and kitchen garden to high professional horticultural standards.
- Undertake planting and maintenance of shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground cover, trees and annual bedding, weeding, pruning, edging, strimming, leaf clearance, mowing.
- Hedging work including the use of electric and petrol hedge trimmers. The use of ladders and high platforms where required adhering at all times to strict safety procedures.
- The application of chemicals when directed and following any necessary training.
- Lawn care involving various annual maintenance tasks and weekly mowing when required.
- Comply with all environmental policies such as energy saving, composting and the reuse and recycling of materials.
- Path maintenance and drain care.
- Maintain a tidy and clean working environment in the gardens, workshops and stores.
- Be flexible at all times and willing to work in other parts of the Estate as required.
- To comply with all health and safety procedures within the Gardens Department.
- This is not an exhaustive list of duties and post holder will be required to undertake other reasonable duties from time to time.
Knowledge, skills and experience:
Knowledge
- Experience of using garden machinery including ride-on and pedestrian mowers.
- Current driving licence.
- Experience of caring for and maintaining lawns, hedges, herbaceous borders, ornamental hardy plants, trees and shrubs.
- Knowledge of Health and Safety issues relating to gardening.
- A relevant qualification in horticulture (e.g. RHS Diploma in the Principles & Practices of Horticulture or the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture).
Skills
- Confident communicator, able to engage with the family, staff and visitors.
- A good team player with an ability to work effectively with a diverse range of people.
- Self-motivated with initiative, energy, enthusiasm and a ‘can-do’ attitude.
- An eye for detail and desire to achieve high standards.
- Mowing, strimming, hedge maintenance and other landscaping work experience
- First Aid training
- Health and Safety training
- Workshop and maintenance skills
- Chainsaw certification.
What we offer and applications:
Reporting to: The Head Gardener
Hours: 40 hours per week
Location: Englefield Gardens & Grounds, including kitchen gardens and other areas around Englefield village
Anticipated Salary/Benefits: £28,500 to £33,500, 10% employer pension contribution, life insurance, eligibility to join the Estate’s private health and medical insurance scheme
Our aims are to promote professional contact, share information and skills and, through our extensive ongoing learning and traineeships, to continue to provide the horticultural industry with skilled gardeners and garden managers.
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