Head of Gardens

EXCLUSIVE VACANCY to English Country Gardeners. Head of Gardens required.

A fantastic new opportunity has become available for an academically qualified and experienced Head of Gardens on an incredible Edwardian estate with stunning views near Chepstow, Wales. Using the original structure of the Edwardian Garden, over the past 5 years the gardens have been significantly renovated and re-designed by the award-winning garden designer, Arne Maynard. As the gardens continue to progress and the team continues to grow, the Head of Gardeners will oversee these incredible gardens and lead the team to ensure the continued development and maintenance to a consistently high standard.

This impressive estate has been divided into different properties and the newly designed two-acre garden will incorporate the original structure of the Edwardian Garden as created at the beginning of the 1900’s. That is to bring the historical garden back to its former glory, in a sensitive interpretation the original vision, but at the same time create a garden of today which reflects the owners tastes and particular garden passions’.

The garden consists of a terrace that wraps around the house with clipped enkianthus in pots with borders planted primarily with irises, a very large pergola garden supporting wisteria and roses with a surrounding rose garden encircling a formal pond planted with water lilies. The formal garden enclosures on either side of the pergola were planted with hyacinths and tulips. Below the terrace wall are deep herbaceous borders where the plants reach up and almost mingle with the ones above. The mood borders were created to change over the seasons from the excitement of the spring bulbs to the main show of mid-summer roses and iris, mixed with geraniums nepetas, digitalis, and salvias, with a wonderful last peak of flowers for late summer and many of which will hold on to seed heads over the winter.

The owners visited Belgium to select four massive topiary yews clipped like wedding cakes to make an impact as one descends the steps from the terrace. Large copper beech topiary was set alongside the roses and provide structure and scale, with cloud topiary providing variation of form and a contemporary edge. To the east of the formal bowling lawn an avenue of magnolia was planted with a beautiful art installation. An informal meadow of long grass planted with a collection of cherry trees and spring bulbs provide a natural feel and a soft backdrop to the formal portions of the garden.

The rock garden was an integral part of the original plan providing a diverse and stimulating focal point when viewed from the sunny south-facing aspect of the house and therefore carefully restored and improved. Utilising the quarried ground, it provided a setting for alpines. The original pools were repaired and linked to waterfalls providing a base for puddlestone rocks, moss, specimen trees and a variety of Japanese Maple. The area adjacent to the rock garden has been planted with a variety of wild Cherry. This area plays a significant role in maintaining the historic and established feel of the property.

There are further plans for the creation of a frame yard with wooden glasshouse, potting shed and cart shed, for a cutting garden and orchard. The forecourt will be developed to include bolder plantings to give a more dramatic entrance to the house. Gardens are about evolution and this garden will be a continuous and exciting journey.

As expected from a garden designed by Arne Maynard and his team, applicants for this position must possess extensive experience in hands-on garden management at a high level. Suitable candidates will hold academic horticultural qualifications, preferably at RHS Level 3 or above, extensive knowledge of plants and their seasonal management and should have a strong background in private estate gardening at Head Gardener level. Applicants must be physically fit and must be competent in the operation and basic maintenance of a full range of garden machinery.

The successful applicant will initially have a team of 5 and have additional help with items such as topiary clipping at certain times of the year as well as from specialist contractors, i.e. arboricultural specialists where necessary, but must be able and willing to work efficiently on their own for the majority of the time.

SALARY: £80,000 DOE

LOCATION: Chepstow, Wales

JOB No: EC55990

If this Head of Gardens vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Head of Gardens 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 Head of Gardens vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £80,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: EC55990