Gardener

Gardener

Lowther Castle & Gardens is a prizewinning visitor attraction with over 100,000 visitors annually. Castle ruins, 130 acres of extensive gardens, a permanent historical exhibition, a café, and a vast adventure playground are equally enjoyed by garden & landscape lovers, dog walkers, and families on a day out.

The Gardens today are unexpected. Under the guidance of internationally acclaimed landscape designer Dan Pearson, new gardens appear within the old’s skeletons. The lost romantic Edwardian pleasure gardens, the original 17thcentury gardens, and the castle ruins have become host to new contemporary designs. Dan Pearson’s master plan was laid out in 2012. Ten years into this, we are at a point where we fine-tune the plant collection and horticultural practices in the well-established areas: the Gardens-in-the-Ruins, Tapestry Parterre, South Lawns with its Wildflower Meadows, and Rose Garden; at the same time, we need to gather momentum to deliver the next phase of plans, for the Rock Garden, Japanese Garden and Sweet-Scented Garden.

Our approach to the site and its historic features is considered sympathetic. We are seeking to continue to keep this unique horticultural project's impetus while creating one of the most popular visitor attractions in the northwest. Lowther Castle & Gardens is a place that can be discovered and explored throughout the seasons.

Overview of Position and Key Skills Required

As a member of the gardens team, you will perform a range of practical horticultural and landscaping tasks to help ensure that our 130-acre Gardens are maintained to a high standard of horticulture. You will have a supporting role in implementing various hard and soft landscape projects. As a hands-on gardener, you will also work closely with the volunteers and support them in their tasks. In time, you will also take ownership of specific tasks and areas of the garden to ensure consistency in the care & maintenance and year-round presentation for our visitors to enjoy. You will have a contributing role in helping us to create an empowering learning environment and a great place to work.

Main Duties

As a gardener and member of the gardens team, you will assist in the provision of efficient, high-quality horticulture at Lowther Castle & Garden by undertaking the following:

• Assisting in ensuring the gardens are maintained to a high standard, offering an excellent visitor experience.
• Being involved at a hands-on level, using tractor & trailer, ride-on mowers, power-driven equipment and hand tools, participating in the maintenance and development of all garden areas.
• Undertaking horticultural tasks, including soil preparation, mulching, watering, weeding, pruning, propagation, planting, lawn maintenance, leaf-clearing, snow clearing and assisting in the upkeep of the woodlands within the gardens.
• Assistance with hard- and soft-landscaping tasks such as site preparation, installing & repairing pathways & edges and planting out woody & herbaceous plants of various sizes.
• Complying with safe working practices, health & safety policies and procedures within the garden
• Supporting the day-to-day management of the volunteer scheme
• Interacting with a wide range of people, including the public, answering questions, helping with garden-related events and tours

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities and duties of the post holder. It is not meant to be, nor is it, an exhaustive list of specific responsibilities and duties. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties that could reasonably be expected as being within the post's remit and arising out of changes in legislation, regulations, orders, rules and working practices, methods and procedures, and reviews as directed from time to time.

Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

Experience

• Experience of working in a similar garden setting as part of a team
• Proven experience in hands-on garden maintenance throughout the seasons
• Good understanding of horticultural techniques, practices
• Good plant knowledge
• Proven competence in the safe use and maintenance of the gardening tool.
• Awareness of relevant Health & Safety rulings & regulations
• Ability to work alone and in groups

• Working with volunteers
• Competence in the safe use of power-driven equipment and machinery
• Experience with installing hard- and soft landscaping projects
• Interacting with the public
• Awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and chemical safety

Skills

• Positive can-do attitude and approachable manner
• Excellent communication skills
• Good organisational & time-management skills
• Reliable team player
• Desire to learn and advance professional skills
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability to change and willingness to embrace new ideas and processes.
• Computer-literate

Qualification

• Recognised horticultural qualification, ideally a RHS Level 2
• Full clean driving license

• PA1 & PA6 spray certificate
• Certificate of Competence in Chainsaw Operations
• First Aid Training

Additional information & Benefits

Contract

Permanent, subject to a 6-month probation period. Ideally, 40 hr per week; however, that is negotiable. Some weekends and occasional evenings, with time-in-lieu, are expected.

Responsible to:

Head Gardener

Working with:

Gardens Team, including volunteers, and liaising with Maintenance, Admission & Catering staff

Based at:

Lowther Castle and Gardens, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH

Salary:

£18,500 to £22,500, depending on experience, for a 40 hr week

• Onsite staff discounts in café and shop
• Free entry to Lowther Castle and Gardens with friends and family
• Free car parking
• Uniform is provided.

Lowther Castle & Gardens is rurally located, and no daily public transport accesses the site.

Lowther Castle & Gardens is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.

Application

We anticipate interviewing between late March and the end of April; as such, there are no application deadlines.

If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a cover letter stating how you meet the criteria & why you are interested in working at Lowther Castle & Garden to the Head Gardener, Andrea Brunsendorf, andrea.brunsendorf@lowthercastle.org. Please also direct any questions about the role to Andrea.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Flexitime

Work Location: One location