Sole Gardener

Job Description

A rare opportunity has arisen for a skilled Sole Gardener to take ownership of an impressive private garden near Wye in Kent. The stunning Georgian property is owned by a family of six and has benefitted from management by a gardener for the past 41-years, though the present owners have been in the property for the last three years. The current Gardener will be moving to a nearby house in early 2021 and whilst nearing retirement age will continue to work in the garden alongside a new Gardener, who in time will take over full time. Ideally, the new Gardener would live in the provided upon taking the role. This is therefore an excellent opportunity for a skilled and knowledgeable gardener to move into a position of responsibility, or for an experienced Sole/Senior Gardener to take on an attractive new role on a live-in basis.The large historic property encompasses approximately 20-acres of lawns, woodland, a river and a stream, mixed bed/borders and flower beds. The gardens require full time attention from the gardener and although the woods are maintained by contractors, they would still require some maintenance from the gardener. Duties include mowing of the lawns (approximately 1.5 days per week), hedge cutting, flower bed maintenance, edging, weed control, stream clearing, shrubbery maintenance, management of herbaceous borders, roses, ornamental pots, riverside plantings, plus other general garden maintenance duties. There is currently no kitchen garden on site and no plans to create one, however glasshouse and plant propagation will be required and as such, applicants must have experience in raising plants from cuttings and seed. There is also a regular requirement for handyman jobs around the estate, though the primary focus of the role is gardening and horticulture. Help from an assistant gardener in the summer months is available in one section of the garden, on a limited basis.Suitable candidates for this role will have strong horticultural knowledge and time management skills, ideally with experience in a similar position; either in a position of seniority and/or responsibility as a Sole Gardener. Good strength and physical fitness are essential as the role may involve heavy lifting and extended periods of hedge cutting with machinery, for example. Applicants should have experience in the operation and basic maintenance of machinery, such as cylinder and ride-on mowers, long-reach hedge cutters and ideally, chainsaws. Experience in species-specific pruning (including roses), basic plant pest and disease control and plant propagation is required, as well as a positive attitude and an ability to work alongside the property owners in a creative and constructive way. The successful candidate will be easy to get on with, have good interpersonal and social skills, be proactive, loyal, a hard worker, gets on well with children and is reliable and trustworthy. A DBS/criminal background check will be asked of the successful candidate.SALARY: Circa £25,000 + AccommodationLOCATION: KentJOB No: EC23855If this Sole Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Mark Read.Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Sole Gardener vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this Sole Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.