This is an exciting full-time opportunity for an experienced and motivated gardener to join a small dynamic team as Senior Gardener at Denmans Garden, a Grade II garden that once belonged to world-renowned landscape designer John Brookes M.B.E. and is open to the public.
You will be working as part of a team to help maintain, restore, and develop this impressive contemporary garden under the direction of the Head Garden and its current owner. There is always plenty to do with this on-going restoration project, from creating an outstanding visitor experience to increasing the garden’s biodiversity and sustainability. The Denmans Garden team is a close-knit, friendly group with a wonderful sense of community.
Formerly the home of gravel gardening pioneer, Joyce Robinson, and celebrated landscape designer, John Brookes M.B.E., Denmans Garden is an award-winning garden that participates in the National Garden Scheme and the RHS Partner Garden Scheme. Located at the foot of the sunny South Downs, it is known for its historic and extensive gravel gardens, faux dry riverbeds, curvilinear and geometric layout, and complex plantings. It features a Walled Garden, small ponds, and a Conservatory as well as a Dutch Lights greenhouse and plant nursery that offers unusual plants, many of which are grown on site.
The 5-acre garden, which has superb winter plantings, draws visitors year-round from around the world making the garden an exciting place to be. For many visitors it is that little bit of peace and tranquillity combined with the unusual plantings and layout that attracts them back to experience the garden at different seasons.
@denmans_garden www.denmans.org
What you'll be doing
As a hands-on gardener, you’ll help ensure that this award-winning RHS Partner garden is maintained to a high standard. You’ll be enthused and knowledgeable about the unusual plants in the garden and understand their role in the garden’s overall design. You will be involved in a range of practical horticultural tasks to develop, enhance, and conserve this Grade II garden, participating in hard and soft landscaping projects and general maintenance, including mulching, pruning, leaf clearing, and weeding. You will be planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and annual plantings as well as cutting hedges and mowing some lawns. You will be propagating plants for the Nursery, ensuring they are well maintained and healthy for visitors to buy. You will support our garden volunteers, interact with the public, answering their questions, and help with gardening workshops, tours and events as needed.
Role Profile:
You will report to the Head Gardener and be responsible for volunteers and the other gardener when the Head Gardener is absent. As Senior Gardener, we would like you to lead by example, lead from the front. You are expected to demonstrate exceptional gardening skills which others can follow and learn from. You will understand how to help the team manage their daily workload and give inspiring and practical training to volunteers. You will build positive working relationships across the whole site. You will talk to people visiting the garden, telling them the Denmans Garden story, and answering their questions.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Minimum of RHS Level 2 or equivalent.
- At least 3 years of experience in horticulture.
- Spraying certificate PA1 & PA6.
- Highly knowledgeable about plants.
- Experience with glasshouse plants and propagation.
- Clear understanding of the relevant Health Safety legislation.
- Formal training in relevant garden machinery.
- Basic IT skills.
- Good communication skills.
- Experience working with volunteers.
Normal working hours are 8am – 4.00pm Monday – Friday. During the summer months you will be expected to work at weekends as part of the staff watering rota including Bank holidays, and at events when required.
Benefits include
- an annual holiday entitlement of 22 days (plus the normal 8 days allowance for Bank Holidays), increasing by 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 25 days.
- Enrolment in Denmans Anew LTD Nest company pension scheme.
- 20% discount in our retail shop & nursery.
- Opportunity to participate in some RHS partner garden events or workshops that are relevant to the garden.
- Health safety courses and training when required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £28,000.00-£33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Schedule:
Experience:
- Gardening: 3 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: Senior Gardeer
