Trainee Gardener

**Southill House - Trainee Gardener**

**Introduction**

Located south of Bedford, Southill House is a Grade I listed property which is the private home of the Whitbread family. The house sits within 600 acres of registered parkland and forms part of the wider Southill Estate.

Mr and Mrs Whitbread seek to employ a Trainee Gardener to join a small team and help with the day-to-day maintenance of their private 18-acre mature garden and its surrounds, extending in total to circa 26 acres (shaded red below). The role represents a great opportunity for someone setting out on a career in gardening who wishes to work alongside and gain knowledge from experienced country house gardeners.

**The Position**

The department is usually staffed by a team of three; a Head Gardener, an assistant gardener and trainee gardener. Under the instruction of Mrs Whitbread, the Head Gardener is the line-manager for the two assistants.

**The Garden**

The garden stretches over 18 acres and comprises of extensive formal and informal lawns. There are wild areas, an arboretum, flower borders, rose gardens, 3 water features, a large greenhouse with a kitchen garden growing fruit and vegetables.

**Key Duties**
- Assisting with the maintenance of all aspects of the gardens including: grass, tree and shrub maintenance, weeding and infrastructure (steps, ponds, paths, swimming pool area, terraces etc), kitchen garden, houseplants, propagation and glasshouse work.
- Working safely and effectively with machinery and equipment such as lawn mowers, strimmers, blowers and hedge cutters.
- At busy times of the year, the garden staff may be required to work additional hours or lend support within the House.
- Occasionally, the garden staff are required to carry out duties outside the boundaries of the formal gardens to assist with the smooth running of the wider Southill Estate.

**Equipment**

The Gardens Department is well equipped with a broad range of ride-on and hand-held machinery and equipment.
- Either newly qualified or studying in the maintenance of private gardens and ideally already familiar with the operation of garden machinery.
- Have some direct experience of working in a private garden and be able to work alone and with others as part of the team.
- A person with a friendly character who is hard working, conscientious and reliable.
- The post is of a practical nature and requires a good degree of physical fitness.

**Desirable qualification requirements**:

- Recognised qualification in Horticulture.
- Experience in a similar gardening role.
- Full, clean driving licence.

**Package & benefits**:

- Salary negotiable, depending on experience.
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays.
- 40 hours per week with occasional weekend working.
- Training as required.
- Contributory pension scheme.