Craft Gardener
EF Education First · Berkhamsted
Job Title: Craft Gardener
Location: Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS
Reports to: Head Gardener
Shifts: 40 hours per week, including weekend rotation
The Opportunity
Described as the 'best office at Ashridge' by our Garden’s team, we are looking for a passionate and creative Gardener to join us as Craft Gardener in our Grade II* listed Garden. In this role you must have a passion for horticulture and a love for historic gardens, to nurture and preserve this beautiful Repton designed ‘Garden of Gardens’.
We're looking for an experienced gardener with creative flair, strong leadership skills, and a deep respect for our heritage and the environment. This opportunity invites you to share your knowledge and experience with our team, to support their growth and development.
As part of our dedicated and passionate team, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing this RHS Partner Garden, delighting visitors and clients throughout the year.
This is a hands-on, fast-paced, and physically active role — ideal for a team player who leads by example.
What does the role involve?
- Prioritisation and implementation of seasonal maintenance of the Formal Gardens, (seasonal bedding, herbaceous borders, lawns, including trees, hedges, shrubs, roses)
- Assist in organising and carrying out landscaping and planting schemes
- Use and maintenance of garden tools, machinery and vehicles as necessary, including hired machinery
- Ensure the irrigation systems are managed sustainably
- Coordinate the general maintenance of, and propagation in the glasshouses and coldframes
- Manage the propagation and cultivation nursery stock (herbaceous and annual plants). Including liaison with suppliers and record keeping
- The appropriate, timely and safe use of pesticides & herbicides including record keeping
Who are you?
- 3-5 years' experience in a supervisory role within a historic garden open to the public
- Full driving licence
- Excellent horticultural knowledge and experience - including glasshouse propagation
- Chainsaw licence CS30/31/32