Role: Sole Gardener / Estate Manager
Location: Near Northleach, Gloucestershire
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per annum (self-employed)
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday (winter hours 8:00am – 4:00pm)
Self-Employed Position
The Burford Recruitment Company is delighted to be representing a private household at their beautiful countryside estate. They are seeking an experienced Gardener / Estate Manager to take responsibility for the maintenance, presentation and ongoing development of their exceptional private grounds.
This is a rare opportunity for a highly skilled horticulturalist to take ownership of a diverse estate, working independently in a trusted long-term role. The successful candidate will manage a wide range of landscapes including formal gardens, woodland, water features and grazing land, all maintained to the highest possible standard.
The estate extends to approximately 13 acres and includes formal gardens, a large pond, multiple water features, a stream, woodland, coppice areas, grazing fields, a wildflower meadow, and a large Alitex greenhouse supported by a fully equipped potting shed and gardener’s office.
Key Responsibilities
* Maintain all lawns, meadows, banks and fields using a range of machinery
* Weeding, edging, pruning, dead-heading and watering
* Hedge cutting, topiary clipping and tree pruning
* Manage the pond, stream and water features including filtration, cleaning and water
* treatment
* Keep all hard landscaping clean and free of debris
* Manage compost systems and green waste
* Maintain fencing, gates and bridges
* Oversee all tools and machinery, arranging servicing when required
* Run the greenhouse and potting shed
* Propagate plants from seed and cuttings and plant out
* Plant bulbs, nursery stock and manage plant divisions
* Keep the garage and equipment store tidy
* Provide occasional house and dog sitting (paid separately)
Skills and Experience Required
* Proven experience managing or maintaining large private gardens, with strong plant knowledge including seasonal care and propagation
* Confident using a wide range of garden machinery; equipment maintenance skills advantageous but not essential
* Proactive, flexible and able to work independently with a positive attitude
* Physically fit and happy working outdoors in all seasons
* Experience of woodland, meadow or wildlife gardening advantageous
* Trustworthy, discreet and reliable, with previous private household or estate experience preferred
* A genuine dog lover, comfortable with daily interaction and very occasional dog sitting (dog sitting is rare)
* Willing to work on a self-employed basis
Salary & Benefits
* Salary in the range of £35,000–£40,000 per annum on a self-employed basis, paid monthly
* House and dog sitting remunerated at £70 per day (very occasionally)
* All tools, machinery, fuel, plants and consumables provided
* Relevant training courses funded where appropriate
* Dedicated gardener’s WC facilities
* Fully equipped gardener’s office including heating, refrigerator, microwave, kettle and Wi-Fi access