Job Title: Groundsperson – Buckminster Estate
Location: Various locations around the Buckminster Estate
Reports To: Forestry Manager
Purpose of the Role
Working within the Forestry Department, to take day to day responsibility for the maintenance and appearance of the Estate's grounds and outdoor spaces, whilst supporting in the delivery of forestry, landscaping, and general outdoor maintenance tasks.
We are looking for a skilled Groundsperson with a passion for the outdoors and a keen eye for detail. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with greenkeeping or fine turf experience to broaden their skill set across a diverse and historic landscape — including ornamental areas, parkland, and woodland.
Key Responsibilities
· Grounds Maintenance: mowing, strimming, scarifying, feeding, and aeration of grass areas including lawns, verges, and amenity spaces.
· Horticulture & Landscaping: hedge cutting, pruning, seasonal planting, watering, weed control and basic tree care.
· Estate Presentation: maintain paths, gravel parking areas, signage, fences, estate furniture (benches, gates), and public areas to a high standard, including undertaking ivy clearance, weed control, removal of overgrowth from structures and surfaces.
· Seasonal Tasks: leaf collection, snow clearance and planting
· Machinery Use: operate and maintain estate machinery including ride-on mowers, compact tractors, brush cutters, and chainsaws.
· Environmental Care: support in the further development and delivery of habitat and conservation work as part of the estate's long-term sustainability goals.
· Woodland Support: assisting with woodland management operations, including preparing firewood or timber needed for estate operations (e.g. for boilers).
· Teamworking: To assist the Game, Garden, or Farm departments on special tasks as required.
· Health & Safety: work safely and responsibly, ensuring that all work is carried out in line with Health & Safety policies using PPE and following estate procedures at all times
Skills & Qualifications
Essential:
* Good experience or demonstrable skills in grounds maintenance / horticulture / forestry.
* Ability to use a range of tools and machinery safely (power tools, strimmers, hedge cutters, etc.).
* Physically capable of doing outdoor work in all weathers.
* Strong attention to detail and ability to take ownership and pride in appearance of the estate.
* Good time management; ability to work independently and as part of a team.
* Valid UK driving licence
Desirable:
* Pesticide / herbicide spraying certificates (PA1/PA6).
* Chainsaw certification
* Some knowledge of tree identification, plant health, and basic ecology.
* Previous experience in woodland management / horticulture / forestry.
* Tractor driving experience.
Working Conditions
* Outdoor work in all weathers.
* Physical lifting and manual labour.
* Occasional requirement for work outside normal hours (e.g. emergencies, seasonal peaks).
* Use of machinery and tools with associated safety risks—appropriate PPE to be used
Remuneration & Benefits
* Salary: £26-28,000pa
* Hours: full time 40 hours per week
* Benefits include generous pension, uniform / PPE provided, training opportunities (e.g. for certifications), Life Assurance
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Free parking
* Life insurance
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person