Head Gardener – Vacancy
We are looking for someone with a demonstrable passion for plants to work alongside internationally recognised garden designer Arne Maynard and the wider estate team, to help care for and continually develop the gardens at Allt y bela, a private Grade II listed late medieval property in Monmouthshire, South Wales. We are looking for someone with a keen interest in the natural environment, preferably with experience of working on a conservation managed estate, supporting SSSI management and/or regenerative land management.
The gardens at Allt y bela cover approximately five acres and include the garden surrounding the main house, two rental cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, topiary, roses, cut flowers, perennial borders, fruit and vegetable areas, and riverside and woodland gardens. The gardens sit within a 165-acre SSSI estate, which is currently under conservation management and grazing. There is an opportunity for the gardener to become involved in the ongoing enhancement of the wider landscape.
Main duties and responsibilities
- To manage overall care and maintenance of the gardens to an exceptionally high standard
- To assist garden creator and owner, Arne Maynard, in ongoing development of the gardens, demonstrating initiative with ideas on how to enhance and develop the garden whilst ensuring the highest quality maintenance of existing areas
- Oversee planting, pruning and weeding of the garden, which is regularly used for garden tours and events
- Adopting organic principles wherever possible, continue to improve soil health and growing conditions for plants throughout the gardens, including creating own supply of compost and garden mulch and managing seasonal regimes for suppressing known garden pests and diseases
- Grow seasonal vegetables, salads, fruit and cut flowers for the house and rental properties
- Lead garden tours and talks with confidence, occasionally alongside Arne Maynard and his team
- Provide regular written and photographic garden updates for Arne Maynard when he is travelling abroad for client visits
- Maintain photographic and written records of the garden and its seasonal development and growth
- Contribute to social media posts and garden journals, supported by photographs where possible
- General administration including monitoring emails, work plans, ordering plants, equipment and products
Opportunities for wider involvement
- Supporting Arne Maynard and the design team on client site visits
- Involvement in the garden design process of planting and setting out gardens
- Mentoring gardeners at AMGD client gardens or providing mentoring training days at Allt y bela
- Contributing during the evolution phase of garden projects, supporting Arne Maynard and the studio team with ideas and technical knowledge and experience
Regular and daily tasks
- Plan and prioritise work on a weekly basis with consideration of forecast weather conditions in collaboration with Arne Maynard and the wider team
- Pruning, dead heading, weeding and maintenance of the herbaceous borders and other garden plantings ensuring the garden is clean and tidy at all times
- Planting and ongoing care of perennial beds and pots, including seasonal planting plans for display pots to ensure timely ordering of bulbs, seeds and established plants (AMGD procurement processes to be used when making purchases)
- Keep up to date records / a regular journal of what has been planted, location and progress of plants (growth, survival rates etc)
- Identify and manage pest infestations and plant disease, using organic principles wherever possible
- Keep on top of fruit and vegetable harvesting and maintain cut flower arrangements for the main house, B&B bedrooms and rental properties
- Use of machinery for variety of maintenance tasks for example, but not limited to: mowing, flailing, hay making, strimming and hedge trimming (all relevant training and certification for garden machinery to be maintained)
- Provide regular written and photographic updates for Arne Maynard via WhatsApp and/or Zoom as required
- Oversee garden contractors, maintain property equipment and systems, identifying issues and repairs as required
Professional skills required
- Strong and demonstrable horticultural knowledge including fruit and vegetable production, rose cultivation, and strong plant propagation knowledge and experience
- Experience of working at private and/or public gardens of a high horticultural standard
- Confident speaker and presenter with demonstrable experience of leading garden tours and talks
- Ability to communicate efficiently and clearly both verbally and in writing
- Relevant garden equipment training and certification
- Relevant IT skills including, but not limited to, social media management, MS Office tools including Word and Excel, email and smart phone messaging apps
- Up to date UK driving license
Personal skills and attributes required
- Self‑motivated and willing to take responsibility for own workload and time management and help manage those of others when required
- Ability to demonstrate initiative with a positive and proactive approach to daily tasks
- Ability to build good relationships with people, both internally and externally
- Ability to work as part of an effective team, assisting and supporting team members as required
- Personal resilience and flexibility to effectively manage and prioritise conflicting demands, with ability to work effectively under pressure, while remaining calm and professional at all times
- Professional and friendly demeanour, with excellent verbal and written skills
- Strong time management, critical thinking and organisational skills
To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Abby Owens, Studio Director at Arne Maynard Garden Design.
Salary: Depending on experience
Hours: This is a full‑time position, Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
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