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Hazeley House
HAZELEY HEATH HOOK RG27 8LT
Apprentice Gardener Opportunity
Hazeley House has an exciting opportunity for a hardworking and enthusiastic Apprentice Gardener to join the estate team working across diverse and well-established gardens.
About the Role
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
The garden consists of formal lawns, mature herbaceous borders, ornamental planting and established trees and shrubs, alongside a traditional walled garden with fruit and vegetable production and propagation facilities.
This position would suit someone with a genuine passion for horticulture who is looking to build and develop a long-term career within the industry. You will gain extensive practical experience working alongside our experienced team within a historic private country estate while studying towards an industry-recognised horticultural qualification through Sparsholt College.
Key Responsibilities
At work you will be supported in developing your practical knowledge, plant skills and confidence across a broad range of horticultural disciplines and learn how to contribute to the ongoing care, presentation and development of the gardens including:
- Lawn mowing and fine lawn care
- Planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants
- Maintaining herbaceous borders and ornamental planting
- Weeding, mulching and soil improvement
- Hedge cutting and pruning
- Soil cultivation and preparation
- Watering and irrigation
- Fruit and vegetable production
- Greenhouse work and plant propagation
- Plant identification and aftercare
- Safe operation and maintenance of horticultural machinery and hand tools
- Assisting with planting schemes and soft landscaping projects
- Maintaining high standards of presentation throughout the gardens
- Working safely and effectively as part of the estate team
Requirements
Previous professional gardening experience is not essential. More important to us is your attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
The successful candidate will:
- Have a genuine interest in plants, gardens and horticulture
- Be enthusiastic about developing new practical skills and horticultural knowledge
- Have a strong work ethic and take pride in their work
- Be reliable, punctual and trustworthy
- Have good attention to detail
- Be able to follow instructions and work effectively as part of a team
- Be comfortable undertaking practical and physically demanding work
- Be willing to work outdoors throughout the year in varying weather conditions
- Be professional and well-presented when working within the private estate environment
- Have a reliable means of travelling to and from the estate and college due to both rural locations
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Training and Qualifications
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative (Level 2)
Course Contents
- Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
- Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
- Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
- Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
- Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
- Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
- Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
- Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
- Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
- Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
- Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
- Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
- Install turf for situation.
- Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
- Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
- Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
- Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
- Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
- Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
- Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
- Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
- Install drainage in landscaping.
- Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
- Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
- Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
- Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
- Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
- Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
- Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
- Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
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Requirements
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Due to the rural location of the estate and for insurance purposes a full clean driving licence and reliable transport is required.
Benefits
- Private Estate
- Estate uniform
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Our aim is to develop an apprentice who can become a valued member of the estate team and on successful completion of the apprenticeship may lead to a permanent full-time position.
Contact Information
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Karen Jackson
Email: karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk
Phone: 01962 797452
Additional Information
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048989.
Closes in 22 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
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