Job Description
Senior Gardener – Belcombe Court
n
Are you a gardener with an artist’s eye?
n
Belcombe Court is looking for a senior gardener with real creative flair to join our small, close-knit team. Winner of the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Judges’ Prize 2024, and the inspiration behind the book A Garden Love Story (Pavilion/HarperCollins), our garden is a special place, and we’re looking for someone to help shape its next chapter.
n
The role
n
You’ll be responsible for improving our borders, bringing fresh ideas for planting combinations, colour, texture and year-round interest, and then rolling up your sleeves to bring them to life. Your responsibilities will also include our pot and container displays, the kitchen garden and cutting garden, the glasshouse, and propagation, including raising our vegetables from seed.
n
We garden organically and as sustainably as we can, so you’ll manage weeds and pests by organic methods, look after our composting and mulching, and coppice on site to produce our own plant supports and materials. Alongside this, you’ll help maintain the wider garden to the high standard it’s known for, working closely with the rest of the team and contributing to lawn mowing and hedge cutting. The garden and scope of work are physically demanding, so a good level of fitness is essential.
n
About you
n
You’ll hold an RHS Level 3 qualification or equivalent, with three to five years’ post-qualification experience in a garden of similar standing. You’ll combine excellent plant identification skills with significant practical experience, particularly of herbaceous perennials and mixed borders, productive growing, glasshouse management and propagation, and you’ll have a real flair for pot planting.
n
You’ll share our commitment to organic, sustainable gardening, and bring a sound understanding of health and safety legislation and good practice, with experience of putting it into action. A good communicator with a positive, can-do attitude, you’ll enjoy working as part of a team and have the confidence to share ideas and take ownership of projects. A full driving licence is required.
n
What we offer
n
A full-time position, five days a week, 8am–5pm, with a salary of £34,000 to £40,000 depending on experience, standard holiday allowance and a pension contribution. Please note, no accommodation is available with this role. Above all, the chance to work in an award-winning garden with genuine freedom to experiment and see your ideas take root.
n
How to apply
n
Please send your CV and a short covering note to paul@belcombe.com, telling us about a border or garden you’re proud of, with a few photos if you can.
n
contribution. Please note, no accommodation is available with this role. Above all, the chance to work in an award-winning garden with genuine freedom to experiment and see your ideas take root.
n
Please send your CV and a short covering note to
n
contribution. Please note, no accommodation is available with this role. Above all, the chance to work in an award-winning garden with genuine freedom to experiment and see your ideas take root.
n
Please send your CV and a short covering note to paul@belcombe.com, telling us about a border or garden you’re proud of, with a few photos if you can.
n
n
…