Senior Gardener – Vacancy
About the Benarth Estate & The Gardens
Benarth Hall is a historic Grade II listed estate boasting an exceptional, horticulturally diverse private landscape. The grounds feature a beautifully structured master plan envisioned by the previous owners and enhanced by nationally renowned, award‑winning garden designers Julie Toll and Ian Kitson. The property is surrounded by a protected woodland with wildlife and panoramic views of the Conwy Estuary.
This stunning acreage is a tapestry of distinct horticultural zones, each requiring expert, specialised care:
- The Formal Grounds: Elegant topiary, meticulously maintained formal hedges, and expansive, manicured lawns that frame the historic property.
- The Borders: Sweeping, vibrant beds tightly packed with a sophisticated mix of specimen shrubs, mature trees, and dense herbaceous perennials.
- The Bank: A challenging, beautifully engineered steep bank that features dense, complex planting.
- The Woodland & Water Gardens: A serene, naturalistic woodland escape centred around a flowing stream and a large, peaceful pond.
An Exciting Expansion Project
The estate is currently growing. An adjacent property is actively being integrated into the main grounds. This newly acquired land will be managed to the same impeccably high standards—offering the successful candidate a truly unique, career‑defining project to help shape from the ground up. The owners are passionate about creating a nature friendly landscape and using this expansion opportunity to encourage more wildlife in the area.
The Role & Career Progression
We are seeking a passionate, skilled, hands‑on, and dedicated Senior Gardener to head our small, collaborative team. Working closely with the Garden Designer and the deeply passionate estate owners, you will play a pivotal role in the hands‑on management, daily preservation, and future development of these magnificent grounds.
As the estate expands and the team grows, this position offers significant career development. For the right candidate who demonstrates exceptional leadership, dedication, and expertise, this role has the clear potential to progress into a Head Gardener position in the future.
We are looking for a gardener with a genuine ‘can‑do’ attitude, absolute integrity, and the leadership judgment needed to guide a team and develop it to play to each member’s individual strengths. You will ensure the gardens and grounds are maintained to a world‑class standard while carefully preserving their historic character and design integrity.
Key Responsibilities
- Plant Care & Maintenance: General upkeep and management of all diverse plantings, complex seasonal bulb schemes, and precise aesthetic pruning of shrubs and trees.
- Lawn & Infrastructure Care: Leading and assisting with high‑level lawn care, including routine cutting, aeration, fertilising, edging, and scarifying.
- Estate Presentation: Maintaining York stone paths, paving, gravel driveways, and garden furniture to ensure the entire estate is kept in a pristine, guest‑ready state.
- Eco‑Friendly Management: Managing weeds and pests utilizing modern organic methods, alongside managing the estate’s extensive composting system.
- Machinery Care: Ensuring the safe operation, cleaning, and basic routine maintenance of all common commercial garden machinery.
Requirements & Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional gardening experience. Experience working on a private estate or managing highly diverse, designer‑led botanical gardens is highly preferred.
- Plantsmanship: Strong, proven plantsmanship skills with a deep understanding of botanical names, habits, and specific care needs of ornamental and native species.
- Qualifications: Professional horticultural qualifications are preferred, ideally RHS Level 2 (or equivalent) and PA1/PA6 spraying certificates.
- Skills: Strong competence and strict safety awareness in the operation of professional garden machinery.
- Licence: A full, clean UK driving licence is required due to the rural, scenic location of the estate.
Hours & Benefits
- Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday (enjoy your weekends off).
- Holiday: 15 days annual leave plus all standard bank holidays.
- Pension: Enrolment in the estate’s workplace pension scheme.
- The Setup: Opportunity to work directly alongside industry‑leading professionals in a prestigious landscape backed by highly supportive owners with a long‑term budget for garden enhancement.
Salary
up to £40K
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