As a Gardener at Longleat, you will play an important hands-on role in maintaining and enhancing the historic gardens and landscape of the estate. Working outdoors year-round as part of a dedicated team, you will help ensure the highest standards of horticulture, presentation and visitor experience, while respecting the heritage and conservation values of the Longleat Estate.
What does this role entail?
Reporting to the Head Gardener, you will be responsible for gardening, grounds maintenance and other horticultural work ensuring the highest standards of conservation, horticulture and guest experience. Your work will involve all aspects of horticulture, including grass mowing, hedge trimming, bedding maintenance, planting and the clearance of leaves and litter, ensuring that all outdoor areas are maintained to the highest standards of presentation and guest experience. You will assist with soft landscaping tasks and be expected to operate in accordance with company policies, procedures, and health and safety guidelines.
Key duties will include:
- To carry out all aspects of gardening, grounds maintenance and other horticultural work including: amenity grass mowing, hedge trimming, planting, pruning, weeding, bedding maintenance, leaf and litter clearance duties.
- To ensure that the lawns and gardens are maintained and presented to the highest standards at all times.
- Represent the Company at all times by being smart in appearance and presentable whilst behaving in an appropriate manner in line with our cultural values.
- To undertake mowing, brushing, aeration and renovations or replacement of damaged area of turf.
- Maintain and report any defects or damage to machinery and equipment, ensure all machines and equipment are cleaned after use and before storage.
- Be responsible for removal of litter and debris on a daily basis within the gardens.
- Support conservation and presentation in line with the Heritage Management Plan.
- Work flexibly in all weather conditions
- To provide a guest focused service at all times ensuring that all work is completed to the highest standards of the brand.
- Be accountable for their own development seeking out opportunities to learn new skills to continuously improve.
- Work in a responsible and safe manner at all times adhering to Health & Safety, safe working practices and Company Policies and Procedures.
- Such other reasonable duties as and when required by your Line Manager.
About you
You will be honest, reliable, with excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to work on your own initiative. You will have great attention to detail with good organisation and time management skills.
- NVQ level 1-2 in Horticulture
- Experience with formal hedge trimming / grass cutting
- Basic knowledge of plants, gardening practices and use of garden machinery.
- Passion for horticulture
- Knowledge of H&S legislation, formal training in manual handling and Risk Assessment
- Hands on experience in grounds and gardens role
- Confidence to participate in garden activities and events
- Good organisational and time management skills;
- Ability to research, digest, analyse and present material clearly and concisely
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to work on your own initiative
- Honesty and reliability
- Flexibility and adaptability to juggle a range of different tasks and meet deadlines
- Full clean driving licence