Skilled Gardener

Situated in the heart of the Kent Countryside, the garden extends to 7 acres and consists of both formal and informal areas planted with a large collection of trees, shrubs and perennials amidst sweeping lawns interspersed with follies and topiary. Magnolias and Salvias are a substantial feature of the garden and these are present in great variety. Job Description: To take part in and assist the senior gardener and curator with the day-to-day management and maintenance of the garden and to ensure that standards are met to enable a positive visitor experience at all times. Duties include: Lawn maintenance – mowing, edging, scarifying, reseeding, topdressing and occasional weed control. Border maintenance – weeding, pruning, deadheading, splitting/replanting and mulching. Hedge maintenance – periodic use of hedge trimmers. Salvia / Rosemary Collection – Assisting in maintaining our collection of Salvias and Rosemary’s. Seed collection / Propagation – With a wealth of plants at our disposal, there are many opportunities to increase and renew stocks, particularly short-lived and half-hardy perennials and sub-shrubs. Front of House – Help to ensure that the entrance areas (car-parks and forecourt) are well maintained at all times. Visitor interaction – Being polite and helpful to our visitors and answering any garden-related questions. Plant knowledge is very important in this respect and time will be available for regular meetings with the Curator to discuss the plant collection. Adaptability – Being prepared to help out at short notice in the visitor entrance hut if a staff member is incapacitated or if any other assistance may be required from time to time in order to assist the smooth running of our operation. Teamwork – We are a very small team and you will be a large cog in a small wheel, therefore it is essential that you can work closely with others, whether they are fellow workers or volunteers. Starting Salary: £29,640 per annum Working hours: An average of 40 hours per week (seasonally adjusted) Alternating Tuesday to Saturday / Monday to Friday Annual Leave: 28 Days plus Bank Holidays per annum Generous stakeholder pension scheme. Essential Skills: A recognised horticultural qualification to RHS Level 2 standard or equivalent. Have proven practical gardening / horticultural experience as well as a strong knowledge of plants. Experience operating garden machinery Excellent communication skills. Excellent time management. The ability to lead small teams of volunteers. A working knowledge of Health and Safety principles and the ability to apply these in the workplace. Valid driving license. Closing date: November 23rd 2025 Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a suitable candidate be appointed before the closing date.

Location: South East England, GB

Posted Date: 11/20/2025