Private Estate
Experienced Gardener
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Experienced Gardener £32-£35k DOE
(RHS Level 2 – Skilled/Experienced Gardener Level)
Role Summary
A prestigious 150-acre private estate in Berkshire with 20 acres of formal and informal gardens is seeking an Experienced Gardener to join a committed 5 person gardening team. This position suits someone with solid horticultural training in RHS Level 2 or equivalent experience, strong practical experience, and the confidence to take responsibility for specific garden areas. Working under the Head Gardener, you will help maintain and develop a diverse landscape including formal gardens, ornamental borders, lawns, woodland, meadows, and estate grounds.
Key Responsibilities
- Advanced Garden Maintenance
- Maintain formal and informal garden areas to a high horticultural standard, including herbaceous borders, mixed planting schemes, topiary, hedging, and ornamental lawns.
- Skilled Plant Husbandry
- Carry out complex pruning, plant training, propagation, soil improvement, and pest/disease management with minimal supervision.
- Seasonal & Specialist Tasks
- Support seasonal displays, bulb schemes, border renovation, and specialist pruning (e.g., wisteria, roses, fruit trees).
- Glasshouse & Propagation Work
- Assist with propagation, seed sowing, cuttings, and care of tender or exotic plants.
- Estate Grounds & Habitat Care
- Help maintain woodland walks, meadows, orchard areas, and wildlife-friendly zones.
- Machinery Operation
- Competently operate a range of horticultural machinery including tractors, pedestrian mowers, ride-ons, hedge-cutters, strimmers, and blowers; basic maintenance desirable.
- Team Collaboration
- Work closely with the Head Gardener and team, contributing to daily tasks, long-term projects, and estate improvements.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Skills & Experience
- Horticultural Training
- RHS Level 2 plus additional training, or equivalent experience demonstrating deeper horticultural understanding.
- Plant Knowledge
- Strong plant identification skills across perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal bedding.
- Technical Competence
- Confident with pruning techniques, soil science basics, irrigation, and border management.
- Private Estate or Large Garden Experience
- Experience in high-standard private or heritage gardens is highly desirable.
- Physical Capability
- Able to undertake physically demanding outdoor work year-round.
- Attention to Detail
- Commitment to immaculate presentation and high horticultural standards.
- Professionalism & Discretion
- Comfortable working within a private household environment with high profile Residents.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Additional Duties
- Kitchen Garden Support
- Fruit, vegetable, and cut-flower production.
- Orchard Care
- Seasonal pruning, thinning, and harvesting.
- Wildlife & Sustainability
- Support for ecological and biodiversity initiatives.
Desirable Attributes and Certificates
- Initiative & Ownership
- Ability to work independently and make informed horticultural decisions.
- Team Spirit
- Positive, collaborative approach within a small, skilled team.
- Development Mindset
- Interest in expanding skills and contributing ideas to garden improvements.
- PA1 and PA6 Knapsack Sprayer Licence
- Understanding of biological controls.
- CS30 and CS31 Chainsaw Licence
- Would be desirable but not essential.
Salary
£32 to £35K DOE
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location