Garden jobs in United Kingdom

Head Gardener – Permanent Contract

£16.83 per hour, 40 hours per week

KYN Bickley, Bickley Park Rd, Bromley BR1 2AZ & KYN Hurlingham, 28 Daisy Lane, London, SW6 3DD

About our KYN Gardens

The Walled Garden at KYN Hurlingham has been created by leading garden designer Randle Siddeley to be a sanctuary for our residents and their families to spend time in an extraordinary and verdant oasis in the heart of Fulham. Few private gardens exist in Central London to rival it.

At KYN Bickley our garden provides seasonal splendour and multiple areas of interest to encourage residents outdoors to experience the sensory uplift of Nature and its proven health benefits. With a variety of routes in which to stroll, our gardens have greenhouses, lawns, hedges, wild grasses, fruit and feature trees, herb gardens, and fruit & vegetable patches to provide a familiar, sensory sanctuary for our green-fingered residents who are encouraged to participate wherever possible.

Head Gardener at KYN

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Head Gardener to lead and manage the horticultural activities across the gardens of our 2 Care Homes in Parsons Green and Bickley. At Parson Green this will be in connection with our Garden Designer, Randle Siddeley to ensure we are delivering his vision for this beautiful garden. This is a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic and creative individual to oversee the maintenance, development, and enhancement of our beautiful gardens.

As Head Gardener, you will have the responsibility of ensuring the gardens are maintained to the highest standard, delivering a visually stunning and environmentally sustainable landscape that aligns with KYN’s vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out routine garden maintenance of all outdoor garden areas in our 2 care homes.
• Maintain the gardens, hedges, lawns, and various borders.
• Oversee all aspects of garden maintenance, including weeding, planting, pruning, pest control, irrigation, and soil care to ensure the health and aesthetics of the gardens.
• Plan and implement planting schemes and seasonal displays, ensuring a balance of aesthetics, biodiversity, and sustainability.
• Regularly mow and upkeep lawn areas, ensuring all paths, walkways, and patios are swept clear of debris, with seasonal leaf blowing and collection.
• Clip topiary and hedging as required.
• Develop and implement garden maintenance schedules, ensuring all areas are well-maintained throughout the year.
• Support residents to engage in horticultural activities, either in small groups or one to one, such as sowing seeds, repotting, weeding, and deadheading as appropriate to the needs and abilities of the residents.
• Maintain and oversee a broad range of garden, grounds, turf care, and relevant machinery, equipment, and tools.
• Oversee the garden budget, ensuring cost-effective sourcing of plants, equipment, and materials while maintaining quality.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations, implementing best practices for the safe use of machinery, tools, and chemicals.
• Promote environmentally friendly gardening practices, such as composting, water conservation, and planting for pollinators.
• Collaborate with the events or visitor management team to prepare the gardens for tours, events, or special projects as required.
• Liaise with the Maintenance Manager to ensure the structure of the garden is maintained.
• Handover and create a simple checklist for each garden for the days you are working in the other home's garden, such as watering routines, etc.

Key Requirements

• Horticultural Expertise: A strong background in horticulture with proven hands-on experience managing and maintaining diverse garden landscapes.
• Creativity: A flair for garden design and the ability to plan and implement visually appealing and functional planting schemes.
• Knowledge of Machinery: Competence in the use and maintenance of garden tools, equipment, and machinery.
• Sustainability Awareness: A solid understanding of sustainable gardening practices and biodiversity enhancement.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot and address issues such as plant diseases, pests, and challenging weather conditions.
• Formal Qualifications: A relevant horticultural qualification (e.g., RHS Level 3, NVQ in Horticulture, or equivalent) is highly desirable.

About You

• Passionate about horticulture and nature.
• Creative and forward-thinking, with attention to detail.
• A proactive and hands-on approach.
• Adaptable and resilient to changing conditions.
• Five or more years’ experience within the industry.
• Strong plant knowledge.
• Previous experience with large formal gardens.
• Horticulture qualification level 2 or 3.
• Professional and presentable demeanour with positive client liaison skills.
• Mechanical knowledge of industry equipment and machinery.

About Our Commitment to You

• Competitive salary and benefits
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Complimentary meals, hot drinks, and snacks throughout your shift
• Bespoke company induction and ongoing training programmes at all levels
• Access to the best-in-class equipment and technology
• Custom-made uniforms provided
• Annual bonus (discretionary and scheme rules apply)
• Employee assistance programme and other attractive wellbeing benefits
• Discount schemes
• Company contributory pension scheme & life insurance
• And much more……

To find out more about KYN, our teams and values please visit www.kyn.co.uk/careers

KYN is an equal opportunities employer.

To be considered for this role you will have to provide proof of right to work in the UK and consent to an enhanced DBS check.

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