Gardener/Horticulturalist in London

Our client designs, creates and cares for beautiful bespoke gardens that reflect their customers' lifestyles, homes and values. They specialise in delivering a highly personalised garden maintenance service to meet the diverse needs of their clients; from busy executives to retired garden-lovers whose gardens are a haven to connect with nature, re-charge and share special memories with the family.

To meet the increasing demand for their high-quality garden maintenance and development services, they are seeking an experienced Gardener/Horticulturalist to join their current team of ten full and part-time staff, working in domestic gardens and estates across Oxfordshire, Bucks and Berkshire.

The Role

As a Gardener/Horticulturalist, you will work as part of a team of between two and four Landscape Gardeners caring for and developing gardens to an agreed standard. You will use your horticultural knowledge and practical skills to maintain a variety of gardens of varying sizes and maturity throughout the seasons.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide all aspects of garden maintenance, including weeding, pruning, splitting, re-potting, tying in and planting of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.
• Digging over beds, soil conditioning and mulching.
• Hedge trimming, lawn mowing, strimming, edging and low-level tree pruning and lopping.
• Use and maintain hand tools and garden machinery, including secateurs, loppers, petrol lawn mower, leaf blower, weed burner, hedge trimmer and strimmer.
• Identify common pests and diseases and understand how to prevent, control and treat them using natural and non-chemical treatments.
• Liaise with clients on site, updating them on completed work and carrying out specific tasks as requested.
• Work effectively as part of a team, providing updates on completed work, outstanding tasks, materials required and suggestions for future garden care.
• Assist the Design and Landscaping department with plant care, planting and other soft landscaping tasks when required.

Requirements

Essential

• At least 3 years' experience maintaining private gardens/estates in the UK, including managing herbaceous borders throughout the seasons.
• Experience with pruning, cutting back, splitting and identifying and treating pests and diseases.
• Full, clean and valid driving licence.
• High level of plant identification skills and horticultural knowledge.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Good time management skills and ability to work to deadlines.
• A high attention to detail and ability to keep working areas and tools clean and tidy.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain positive relationships with clients, colleagues and contractors.
• Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Ability to follow instructions, learn from previous mistakes and ask for help when required.
• Patience, persistence, consistency, reliability and flexibility.

Desirable

• Level 2 RHS or equivalent qualification in Horticulture or working towards this.
• Trailer towing qualification B+E or experience and competence in towing.
• Understanding of relevant Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Understanding of GDPR and confidentiality when handling personal data.

What's In It For You

• Regularly reviewed competitive salary.
• 40-hour working week 7.45am – 4.45pm, Monday-Friday (no weekend working or late hours).
• Based out of fully-equipped, custom-built Operations Hub on outskirts of Wallingford.
• Vitality Health Insurance or equivalent contribution to a health and wellbeing benefit of your choice (e.g. gym membership, physical and mental wellbeing support).
• 28 days holiday, increasing with long service from 2 years. Up to 3 days additional holiday over Christmas.
• Additional ‘Nature Day' to enable you to connect with nature.
• Wellbeing programme supported by Perennial.
• Workplace pension.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• All tools provided and on-site mechanic for repairs and maintenance.
• Company uniform provided with annual boots allowance.
• Use of company vehicles for business use.
• Twice-yearly Company Social events – Christmas and late Summer.
• Supportive team environment that encourages ideas and initiative.
• Training and development, both formal and ‘on the tools', underpinned by RHS and HTA standards.

What's next?

It's easy! Click “APPLY” now! We can't wait to hear from you! Complete and return an application form to highlight those employment skills and experiences that you believe make you suitable for this role and why, and to explain clearly why you're interested in this role and why it is a development for you and your career. Successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face interview at the Operations Hub. A trial day may be offered.

Our client's mission is to create and develop beautiful and biodiverse gardens that support wildlife and wellbeing. As part of your application please tell them how you will help them to achieve this. Your data will be handled in line with GDPR.