Head Gardener

ECG Limited; Scotland; On-site; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job description

An incredible opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Head Gardener to maintain a beautiful private estate garden located on the Scottish Borders in the historic county of Berwickshire.

The established gardens are part of a wider estate. Directly surrounding the property, the 5 acres garden comprise of formal areas including lawns, informal grass areas, thousands of bulbs, herbaceous borders, a cutting garden, fruit trees, hedges and a large Alitex Greenhouse. The Head Gardener is a key position, and the person appointed will be responsible for ensuring that all areas are maintained to the highest horticultural standards in order to preserve its character.

In addition to maintaining all areas of the garden, the successful candidate will work closely with the owner to continue to enhance the beauty and function of the garden. This role will feature the supervision of a full-time gardener.

The successful candidate will ideally hold a horticultural qualification e.g. RHS Level 2 or above and / or equivalent suitable horticultural experience on a diverse private estate. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate excellent plant knowledge and technical skill, a good knowledge of health and safety and hold a spraying certificate. Practical experience with the use and maintenance of a wide range of garden machinery such as strimmers, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers is important. A digger licence would be beneficial.

The salary on offer is £38,000 plus pension contribution and includes accommodation on the estate. The accommodation is a 4-bedroom semi-detached cottage, which is a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh, with the council tax and utilities being the tenant’s responsibility. Partners, children and pets are welcome. Potential additional employment for partner/spouse may be available.

The hours are 40 hours per week worked on a flexible basis with 25 days holiday per annum. Due to the rural location of the property, a clean driving license is essential for this position. Excellent references will be required.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Head Gardener to work on a diverse and interesting garden and to live in a picturesque part of the country. The successful candidate will also enjoy working closely with owners who are genuinely passionate about their garden.