Skilled Gardener

Hadingham Kirk • Full-time • Oxford, ENG, GB • £26,000 - £28,000 / year • 12m ago

Are you looking to further your career in gardening? We are seeking a skilled, passionate Gardener with strong plant and gardening knowledge to join our friendly maintenance team in the Oxford area.

Our Company

Hadingham Kirk is a company founded over 10 years ago that offers bespoke garden design, landscaping and maintenance services in and around Oxford. The company has a highly skilled team across all areas of gardening, including design, landscaping, carpentry, and garden maintenance. We take great care and pride in our work and cherish the long lasting relationships we build with our clients.

Our Team

The maintenance team, made up of sevengardeners, primarily tends to gardens designed by Hadingham Kirk, as well as several established gardens in the area. At present, we manage approximately 50 gardens with each gardener getting the chance to manage their favourites.

All together the gardens span from smaller inner city back gardens to large country estates with garden styles varying from: contemporary, wildlife friendly, formal, cottage, kitchen, meadow, riverside, and country landscapes. Our aim is not only to maintain the gardens but also to enhance them, helping them flourish throughout the seasons.

Our work days are usually split into two halves, visiting one garden in the morning and one in the afternoon. Gardens are then revisited either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Together we find a nice rhythm to the days whilst retaining variety.

Your Role

The work is mainly carried out in teams of two, though solo gardening can occur depending on the needs of the gardens. We expect the right candidate to have good horticultural knowledge and to be able to approach a garden effectively and with a good eye for detail. Excellent communication is essential for the role, both for client-facing work and within the team.

Although you will already be a good gardener with great plant knowledge, we offer training and extra courses in specialised areas of gardening, and encourage advancement within the company.

Routine care and maintenance of gardens, including grass cutting, hedge cutting, bed work, planting, pruning, fertilizing, pest control etc.
Monitoring and reporting of gardens’ health.
Providing knowledge input and advice relating to all aspects of the garden.
Selecting the correct equipment for the day.
Driving to and from jobs (vehicle not required within working hours).
Adhering to all organisation policies and procedures.
Setting an example for colleagues of commitment, work ethic and habits and personal character.
Contributing towards the smooth running of the team.
Communication with clients.
Communication with other teams in the company.

Skills/Experience:

Have a minimum of 1 year’s experience in a similar role.
Demonstrate knowledge of basic health and safety.
A full clean driving license (REQUIRED).
Degree or diploma in horticulture, or equivalent experience or degree or diploma in ecology, environmental science, or a related field is preferred.
Relevant machinery certifications such as chainsaw use or pesticide use and handling Pa1 and Pa6 is preferred, though training will be provided where needed.

About you:

Excellent interpersonal skills.
Must be punctual, organised, respectful and able to work effectively under time pressure.
Must have high working standards.
Must be prepared to work in all weather conditions (clothing provided).
Must have a high level of integrity and honesty in all dealings.

Working Hours: The hours of work are 07:30 - 04:30, Monday to Friday. Working days include 1 hour of unpaid break. 20 days of paid annual leave, plus UK bank holidays.

Benefits