Gardener

HL Services; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Gardener

Role Family: Gardens Department

Based at: Abbotswood Estate

Reporting to: Head of Gardens and Parkland

Summary: To assist the Head of Gardens and Parkland in the hands-on maintenance in order that the Gardens reach their full potential in line with the expectations of the principals.

Working Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 4.30pm. Occasional weekend work will be required on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Assisting the Head Gardener to ensure the walled garden and orchards are developed and maintained to the highest standards.
2. Mowing of lawns around the garden and Parkland to the highest standards.
3. Applications of fertilizers and lawn treatments.
4. Woodland works including minor tree works.
5. Compost production.
6. Pond and river maintenance.
7. Snow clearance and salt spreading around the estate.
8. Drain and ditch maintenance.
9. Garden maintenance of other properties in and around the estate.
10. Ensure an appropriate standard of maintenance is applied to all garden buildings, paths, walls, fences, and gates.
11. Undertake weekend activity, watering etc. as required.
12. Ensuring that all machinery and equipment is maintained in good clean and safe working order.
13. Maintaining water features, associated pumps, filtration systems and informing the Head Gardener of any issues.
14. Keeping all service areas, workshops, mess rooms and all areas used by the Gardens team clean and tidy.
15. Report to the Head Gardener when new materials/supplies are needed to be replaced/ordered.
16. Pruning and maintaining shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants.
17. Soil cultivation and bed preparation.
18. Planting a wide variety of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and bedding plants, as per the planting schedule and layouts given by Head Gardener.
19. Weeding of all areas.
20. Applying mulches and fertilizers where appropriate.
21. Maintaining paths and roads, including leaf blowing and power washing.
22. Maintaining garden structures including sheds, fences, walls and gates.
23. Using and maintaining hand tools and basic garden machinery (leaf blowers, strimmers, lawnmowers) safely and effectively.
24. Using ladders, platforms and lifting equipment where appropriate.
25. Ensuring all equipment and machinery is properly cared for and informing the Head Gardener of any problems.
26. Upholding all health & safety regulations.
27. Keeping all working areas in an orderly manner.

This is not an exhaustive list but represents a list of routine duties that the post holder will be required to perform on a regular basis. The post holder may be required to carry out additional duties under the direction of the Estate Manager.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Previous professional gardening experience, ideally gained in a large private garden environment.
• In-depth and wide-ranging knowledge of garden design, hard landscaping, and light machinery operation.
• Ability to work efficiently on an independent basis as well as within a wider team.
• Attention to detail.
• A confident and positive attitude and the ability to engage with a diverse range of colleagues and clients, including VIPs.
• The ability to work flexibly and under pressure – sometimes with limited notice to cover periods of high intensity.
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal.
• A passion for horticulture.
• Confidence in decision-making.
• Team-player.
• IT / computer literate.

Desirable:

• Previous experience of working in private residential services.
• Relevant horticultural qualifications (R.H.S. level 2 or equivalent).
• Sports turf management.
• Health and safety qualification.
• PA1 and PA6.
• Chainsaw certificates.

I understand and agree to the contents of this job description.

Name: _________________ Signed: _____________________________ Date: _____________