Live Out Estate Head Gardener Based Near Banbury – Start ASAP

A beautiful private family-owned property in the North Oxfordshire area is looking for an Estate Head Gardener. The gardens comprise of ornamental gardens, an orchard, a productive walled garden and glasshouse, cutting gardens, gravel garden, nuttery, wildflower meadows, pond and wetland, flowering tree and shrub walk; the overall character is naturalistic alongside formal hedging, lawns and topiary providing structure. The estate is managed according to organic principles and the existing gardeners share the owners’ passion for regenerative methods of managing landscape, promoting biodiversity and exploring and developing methods to garden with sensitivity to nature and the wider landscape, whilst simultaneously ensuring that the ornamental gardens are kept to the highest standard. Additionally, a cut flower business is run from the estate grounds and the Estate Head Gardener will be required to assist and support in the maintenance of the cutting gardens as needed. A real interest and curiosity for growing cut flowers would be a plus.

Responsibilities include:

• Care for and maintain the estate’s sixteen acres of gardens and grounds, including ornamental gardens, an orchard, walled garden, cutting gardens, glasshouse, nuttery, wildflower meadows, ponds, wetland areas, and shrub walks.
• Regularly perform gardening tasks such as weeding, mulching, planting, pruning, deadheading, fertilising, and watering.
• Ensure high standards of garden aesthetics by tending to detailed border schemes, topiary, formal hedging, lawns, and other garden features.
• Support the development and renovation of the gardens according to the new landscape designs being introduced by a creative design studio.
• Support the development, growth and encourage progression of other team members.
• Use extensive plant knowledge to care for a wide range of plant species, particularly those in the estate’s ornamental and cutting gardens.
• Apply organic and regenerative gardening methods, with an emphasis on promoting biodiversity and working sensitively with nature.
• Maintain knowledge of seasonal gardening tasks and requirements for different plants, adjusting care methods accordingly.
• Assist in the maintenance and care of the cutting gardens, as directed by the Head Gardener.
• Participate in the harvesting and management of flowers for the estate’s cut flower business.
• Take direction from the Estate owners (and others as they may direct) but also show own initiative in managing daily horticultural activities.
• Work collaboratively with the small Estate garden team, and the neighbouring cut flower garden team.
• Work in accordance with the estate’s organic and regenerative principles to help maintain the landscape in a way that promotes sustainability and biodiversity.
• Ensure that organic methods are used in all aspects of gardening, such as soil management, pest control, and plant health.
• Assist with planting schemes, seasonal changes, and managing evolving plantings in line with new designs and the broader vision for the estate.
• Ensure that tools, equipment, and materials are maintained in good condition.
• Keep accurate records of garden activities, plant health, and garden tasks.

Essential Requirements:

• An excellent Gardener, with a minimum of three years in a similar level role at a Historic or Private Estate.
• A positive team player with strong communication skills.
• Excellent and demonstrable plant knowledge.
• High level border work, working with attention to detail and craft in border maintenance work.
• Excellent pruning skills – competency in this area with a range of perennial plants, shrubs and climbers.
• Demonstrable experience in the routine annual maintenance of hedges; lawns; areas of hard-landscaping; assistance with the care of the wildflower meadows.
• Experience using power tools for garden maintenance, including hedge-trimming and strimming.
• Experience in productive gardening: vegetable and soft fruit production.
• A full clean UK driving licence.
• Experience driving other ground vehicles eg. ride-on mowers, SWB / LWB vans, manual and automatic operating systems – would be beneficial.
• Work as part of a small, close-knit team, but also demonstrate the ability to work independently and self-motivate to complete tasks to a high standard without supervision.
• A strong interest or curiosity in cut flower cultivation is desirable, as it will play a part in the estate’s commercial flower-growing activities.
• Management skills – on occasion you will be required to work with freelance gardeners at busy times of the year, and you will need to be responsible for managing any freelance gardeners on site.
• A level 3 horticultural qualification in addition to the required professional experience.

Please see further details below:

• Start: ASAP
• Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
• Days/Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 4:30pm. Flexibility needed (some early mornings and weekends) will be required on occasion to support the private family, as needed.
• Salary: Dependent on Experience

Please apply with your up-to-date CV if you are interested in this position.