Apprentice Gardener

This is an exciting opportunity to represent Rosalind and David Cleevely at Aston Hall, a private family estate in South Shropshire with extensive gardens, grounds and wider estate land.

Requirements

• GCSE in Maths and English (grade 4 and above) desirable
• Previous gardening, horticultural, conservation or outdoor volunteering experience desirable
• RHS studies or horticultural qualifications (if already undertaken) desirable
• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Physical fitness
• Willingness to work outdoors

Responsibilities

• Supporting the care and maintenance of gardens, lawns, borders and planted areas
• Assisting with seasonal planting, pruning, weeding and general horticultural tasks
• Learning plant identification, propagation and cultivation techniques
• Helping maintain the wider estate grounds to a high standard
• Operating and maintaining horticultural tools and equipment safely
• Assisting with vegetable growing, greenhouse work and seasonal projects where appropriate
• Supporting new planting schemes and ongoing garden development
• Working alongside experienced gardeners and estate staff to develop practical horticultural skills
• Following safe working practices and contributing to the smooth running of the estate
• Applying health and safety processes and procedures, including risk assessments, manual handling, and legislative requirements
• Applying environmental mitigation measures, including storage and disposal of waste
• Selecting, operating, cleaning, storing, and maintaining tools, equipment, and machinery safely
• Communicating with technical and non-technical audiences appropriately
• Identifying plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names
• Maintaining correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures
• Identifying and reporting symptoms/signs of UK plant pests, pathogens, and disorders
• Maintaining plant health through basic needs like water, nutrition, and light
• Cultivating, improving, and preserving soils
• Clearing unwanted vegetation using selected techniques
• Removing unwanted or damaged growth from plants through pruning
• Planting shrubs and trees
• Installing turf
• Mowing turf using pedestrian-controlled mowers
• Maintaining or protecting hard surfaces, features, or structures
• Using digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, and problem resolution
• Measuring and setting out uncomplicated sites for landscape construction
• Cutting hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels
• Repairing constructed landscape features
• Constructing paved features like paths or patios
• Constructing vertical landscape features including fences and walls
• Installing drainage in landscaping
• Constructing horizontal landscape features (excluding paving)
• Propagating plants by cuttings and seed sowing
• Providing aftercare to recently installed turf and maintaining established turf or meadows
• Identifying plant suitability to site, purpose, and aesthetics
• Maintaining soft landscapes, including staking, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting
• Monitoring and controlling plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods
• Planting herbaceous and seasonal plants
• Pruning plants for healthy growth and form