A family of four are looking for a full-time Head Gardener to maintain and support the
ongoing development of their garden near Uckfield, East Sussex TN22.
Package Offered
- £37,000 - £42,000 gross per year depending on experience and overall package.
- Separate accommodation can be provided a short drive from the property.
Background
The site consists of an 8 acre garden set around a house with 15th century origins,
with meadow, pasture, woodland and a lake beyond. The garden includes intensively
managed areas closer to the house - principally heavily planted herbaceous borders
in which the perennials are supplemented with bulbs, annuals and tender perennials
to maintain season long interest, woodland garden areas, an orchard, ponds, a
productive vegetable and flower garden and extensive wildflower meadows.
Plantings incorporate a wide range of plants, including unusual varieties. The family
are passionate about the garden and the husband in particular is a keen gardener.
They have a dog, chickens and bees, so you should be happy to be around animals.
The garden is open once per year for NGS, and occasionally opens for other visits.
Duties
The Head Gardener will have primary responsibility for managing the garden
including the planning of tasks through the seasons and a hands-on role in all
aspects of the maintenance and development of the garden. In this they will work
closely with the owner, and work with and mange a full time Kew trained horticultural
assistant and external contractors as appropriate. They will be passionate and take
pride in their work and will maintain and present the garden to a high standard. The
duties will include a full range of horticultural tasks, (e.g. managing herbaceous
borders, kitchen garden, pruning and training, propagation, wildflower meadow
development and maintenance) including use of all types of garden machinery.
Location/Accommodation
The family home is located in East Sussex TN22. This role is either live in or live out
– the owners own a two bedroom house with garden a short drive away. If you wish
to live out you should be within an easily commutable distance of East Sussex TN22.
Days/Hours
40 hours per week. The existing gardener starts work at 7am and finishes at 3pm -
but there is flexibility as to timings over the seasons as long as an 8 hour day is
performed.
Languages
You should speak and write a good level of English.
Skills and experience
- You must have professional gardening experience and expert knowledge of
- plants.
- Good communicator. Ability to manage others and lead a team to produce
- results.
- You must have a valid drivers’ license and confidence with relevant tools and
- machinery.
- Horticultural qualifications – ideally RHS level 3 or above.
- The applicant should have a clear understanding of Health and Safety in a
- garden context.
- Chainsaw licence would be a positive.
Interview/Start date
Interviews taking place now for the right person to start ASAP.