Gardener / Estate Worker

This is such a fantastic opportunity to work in an incredible setting, for someone with previous garden or estate experience. Hestercombe is a very unique, and historically significant site. You’ll get to immerse yourself in four different eras of garden design, as well as historically significant outer estates of broadleaf woodland, grassland, orchard and wild flower meadows.

Although steeped in history Hestercombe is a very progressive, forward thinking independent charity to work for. We are constantly developing to be a centre of excellence for gardens, landscape and art to engage and inspire our visitors.

This is an extremely diverse role and would suit those from a horticulture background as much as those from a countryside management or estate work background. There is plenty of variation, no two days are the same.

You’ll be working on everything from tree felling, lawn care, border maintenance and all aspects of growing. As well as helping visitors day-to-day and getting involved with our exciting programme of events on occasions.

We are looking for someone with previous experience and/or a relevant qualification so that they can hit the ground running.

The team member must be a hardworking, hands on person who can get the job done, but with finesse and polish to suit a garden of this calibre. Basic garden machinery experience required, as well as some good plant knowledge. In an ideal world you would have a cs30/31 chainsaw ticket but training can be provided for the right person.

We are a small team, helped by a fantastic group of volunteers, so being able to communicate, be friendly and kind is really important to us.

Our team has many facets and we all have different skills, knowledge and experience to achieve the overall goal of creating and maintaining an inspiring, and historically relevant, experience for our visitors.

See the job description for the role for more information.

Salary & contract

• £22,601 per annum
• This is ideally a full time post at 40 hrs per week but we would consider part time applications

Other benefits

Incentives include retail, food and drink discounts and free Hestercombe membership ~ plus, you'll have access to the beautiful gardens here to relax in.

You'll receive 23 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays). After 2 years employment this rises by one day every year up to 26 days holiday.

Free Membership to Hestercombe also includes half price entry to many other attractions.