Job Description

An excellent opportunity has arisen on a beautiful privately owned arts and crafts garden in Southwest Surrey. The partially designed Gertrude Jekyll Garden sits within half a mile of the local train station and beside SSSI woodland. The formal privately-owned garden is listed and has featured in garden literature over the last 100 years, though it is not currently open to the public.

The formal gardens encompass 6 acres with a further 5 acres of SSSI woodland. There is also a 6-acre field that is contiguous with the property which requires minimal management. The gardens have been restored in part to their original structure over the past 20-years and comprise a stunning sunken garden with an octagonal lily pond, a walled winter garden, a lime walk and a circular garden with shrubbery. An original rose garden of one acre, which had fallen into disrepair under previous ownership, has been redesigned by Simon Dorrell and is now fully established. The gardens contain extensive yew and some box hedging with some topiary, several lawns, herbaceous borders, shrubberies, orchard, three ponds, mature trees and numerous architectural features including bargate walls. The grounds also include a large greenhouse, cold frames, a potting shed, a workshop, a garden yard and various outbuildings. The woodland (which was originally a hazel coppice) slopes steeply down to a river. A management plan has been agreed in conjunction with Natural England, the implementation of which has been underway for several years.

The successful applicant will have demonstrable experience of managing large private gardens on their own and of maintaining high standards. Help may be brought in where necessary, i.e. in response to seasonal demands. Applicants will ideally hold an academic horticultural qualification(s) or experience working on a horticulturally diverse garden, have excellent plant knowledge and physical fitness, competency with the operation and basic maintenance of garden machinery as well as excellent time management skills and self-motivation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate to join a friendly and welcoming estate and manage a stunning arts and crafts garden autonomously. The position will suit a physically fit and knowledgeable gardener with excellent time management skills and an ability to prioritise their workload. Applicants need not possess a driving licence for the role but should be living within a reasonable commuting distance.

SALARY: up to \xc2\xa340,000

LOCATION: Southwest Surrey

JOB No: EC59641

If this Sole Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin on 01233 733510 or

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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Sole Gardener vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this Sole Gardener vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

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