Estate Gardener - Langham, United Kingdom - Aspiro Enterprises

Description

The Gardens and Estate

• Langham Hall sits in a small estate of 125 acres of gardens, parkland, meadows and woods. There is a stream through the meadows and we are planning to dig a lake and plant another wood.
• The meadows are let to sheep and hay farmers.
• There are c.4 acres of gardens and lawns around the house, and a woodland garden around a very small cricket pitch.
• In addition, the 2.5 acre Langham Hall walled garden dates from the early 1700s and is split broadly evenly between an ornamental garden and a kitchen garden. The walled garden is largely (but not entirely) looked after by two tenants (Catherine & Steve) and a team of wonderful volunteers. There are fruit, vegetables and plants sold from the Walled Garden three days per week between April and October.
• We host the annual Langham Hall Garden Festival in aid of local charities in June each year.
• Langham Hall sits in the centre of its land. There are three cottages plus Langham Court which used to be the coach house and is now offices, and Langham Grange which used to be garden and farm buildings which is now offices and the Langham Clinic.
• See for more information.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced Gardener & Groundsman to work closely with the owners in running and improving the gardens and grounds, for which you will have overall responsibility outside of the walled garden.

Within the walled garden you will work alongside the existing team of tenants and volunteers.


Your responsibilities will include:

Gardens:

• Lawns: mowing, edging, aerating, scarifying, fertilising.
• Within the walled garden you will have specific responsibilities alongside Catherine and Steve and the volunteers, including lawn and path maintenance, any ornamental replanting and maintenance required.
• Bringing on plants from seed or cuttings.
• Driving the mini tractor (a retired lawn mower) & trailer.
• General garden and grounds maintenance not covered above.
• General maintenance of machinery and coordination with local servicing team.
• Assisting with setup and on the day management of the Langham Hall Garden Festival including signage, car parking, ticketing.

Groundsman/Caretaking:

• Drives, car parks, paths and yards: tidying, raking, brushing, leaf blowing.
• Weed control using chemical spray from a backpack sprayer.
• Tree and hedgerow planting.
• Chainsaw operation and using other powered machines to fell trees or clear away fallen trees.
• Wood splitting manually or by machine and provision of logs to the hall.
• Digger work on ditches, stream, paths and borders.
• Basic maintenance of fences.
• Organising and booking contractors and suppliers as required including hedgecutter, plant nurseries, aggregate.
• Ensuring the properties on the estate are secure at all times, especially when the owners are away.
• Taking the bins to the end of the drive on collection days.
• Assisting tradesmen with deliveries.
• Any other reasonable task as required from time to time.

Optional:

• Assistance with garden design.
• Monitoring and basic maintenance of estate properties and grounds, including chimneys, roofs, rainwater goods and drains, windows and doors, paintwork.
• Organising and booking contractors as required including painters and bricklayer.
• Delivering cars for MOT, basic car maintenance and cleaning.
• Occasional dog walking / feeding.
• Assisting with organising the Langham Hall Garden Festival such as promotion, musicians, bar.

Benefits

• Opportunity to live and work in a beautiful area and make real improvements to the garden and grounds.
• Above industry average salary, negotiable, plus statutory pension contributions.
• The option of accommodation in the Garden Cottage should you wish it. It has two bedrooms and is in a pretty location with a garden of its own, next to the walled garden.
• Training and certification will be paid for.

Skills and qualifications
We are only interested in someone who is interested in this as a long-term role.


Essential:

• Experienced gardener with good horticultural knowledge.
• A positive person who will get on well with our family, the existing team, contractors, tenants and the local community.
• Someone who relishes the opportunity to turn the Langham Hall gardens and grounds into something even more special and who wants to achieve the highest standards.
• Enthusiastic, hardworking, practical, reliable, organised and selfmotivated.
• Proactive at spotting issues and fixing them.
• Driving licence.

Nice to have (these are not a requirement and training courses will be provided as necessary):

• Chainsaw certificates
• Experience of driving a small digger/digger certificates
• Knowledge of countryside stewardship schemes
• First aid at work training
• RHS levels 13 qualifications
• Basic computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook).

Job Types:
Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Part-time hours: 32-45 per week


Salary:
£25,000.