Head Gardener - Accommodation Provided

Head Gardener
Location: Cumbria
Salary: From £35,000 DOE + accommodation available
Hours: Full time

This is a great opportunity to take responsibility for the gardens and grounds of a large private estate, working with an established team and continuing the development of a varied 36 acre site.

The estate includes extensive lawns, pleasure grounds, borders and a Victorian walled garden, alongside a productive kitchen garden supplying produce to the estate's Michelin star restaurant.

What you'll be doing:
As Head Gardener, you'll have overall responsibility for the day to day management, maintenance and development of the gardens and grounds.

Leading and developing a settled team of full and part-time gardeners.
Overseeing the maintenance of lawns, borders, pleasure grounds, hedges and wider estate areas.
Supporting the continued development of the Victorian walled garden.
Overseeing the productive kitchen garden and working closely with the Kitchen Gardener and Head Chef.
Providing practical horticultural guidance, training and support to the wider team.
Planning workloads and making sure standards are maintained across the estate.
Managing departmental budgets, machinery, health and safety and general garden operations.
Supporting open days, events and other activity across the estate where required.
Contributing ideas around future planting, restoration and development projects.

What they're looking for:

An experienced Head Gardener, Senior Gardener or similar with strong practical horticultural knowledge.
Previous experience working across a substantial private estate, historic garden or similarly large site.
A confident people manager who can provide stability, direction and support to an established team.
Good knowledge across ornamental horticulture, borders, lawns and general estate gardening.
Experience of productive or kitchen gardening would be useful.
Someone happy to be visible and involved with the team, whether that is hands on or more focused on guidance and management.
A practical, organised approach with the confidence to work alongside other departments across the estate.

Why join?

Take responsibility for a varied 36 acre estate.
Established and experienced gardening team already in place.
Opportunity to work across both ornamental and productive horticulture.
Ongoing investment and development across the estate.
Kitchen garden supplying produce directly into the estate's Michelin star restaurant.
Accommodation available as part of the package.
Salary flexibility for the right person.

Apply now
Send your CV to or call (phone number removed) for a confidential chat
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed