Estate Gardener
A varied, year-round role caring for gardens and grounds across a historic Suffolk estate
Salary: Around £26,000 per year, depending on experience
Hours: 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Location: Nedging Hall Estate, Nedging Tye, Suffolk, with work at associated properties across Suffolk
Reports to: Head Gardener
Do you take pride in well-kept gardens, understand what needs doing through the seasons and enjoy seeing the results of your work?
Nedging Hall Estate is looking for a knowledgeable, hands-on Gardener to join our small gardening team, working closely with and reporting to the Head Gardener. This is a genuinely varied role: you will care for formal gardens, lawns, borders, hedges, orchards, fruit and vegetable areas, greenhouses and other planted spaces, while also helping with garden improvements and occasional estate events.
Could this be you?
- Practical experience and sound horticultural knowledge: you have cared for gardens or grounds, ideally in a formal, private, estate or commercial setting, and understand plant care, pruning, lawns, soil preparation, seasonal work and common pests and diseases.
- Confidence with tools and machinery: you can use hand tools and powered garden equipment safely and look after them properly.
- A full, valid UK driving licence: you can travel reliably between estate sites.
- Initiative and high standards: you can organise a varied workload, respond to changing priorities and take pride in the finished result.
- Teamwork, reliability and discretion: you work well with the Head Gardener, gardening colleagues and the wider estate team, while remaining professional around residents, guests and customers.
- An outdoor, practical approach: you are willing and able to work in varied weather and meet the practical requirements of the role; reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate.
What you will be doing
- Provide year-round care for lawns, borders, hedges, orchards, fruit and vegetable areas, greenhouses and seasonal displays.
- Mow, edge, strim, weed, mulch, cultivate, plant, stake and prune to the right horticultural standards and timescales.
- Monitor soil, plant health, pests and diseases, and adapt irrigation and watering to the weather and site priorities.
- Use hand tools, powered garden machinery and authorised small plant safely, including pre-use checks and routine care.
- Support soft and hard landscaping projects, including beds, edging, paths and other outdoor improvements.
- Work across Nedging Hall and associated private, commercial, hospitality and rental properties as priorities require.
- Help prepare the estate for events, fetes and the Suffolk Show, and support occasional seasonal work such as firewood production and distribution.
- Work safely and collaboratively with the Head Gardener and team, sharing progress and helping plan seasonal priorities while protecting every site's character, security and presentation.
Useful, but not essential
Useful qualifications or experience include Level 2 horticulture; PA1/PA6; chainsaw or land-based safety certification; irrigation; compact plant; machinery maintenance; landscaping; event support; composting; soil health or biodiversity.
Please apply even if you do not have every desirable item.
What we offer
- Salary: around £26,000 per year, depending on experience.
- Working pattern: 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility for estate events and seasonal demands.
- Practical support: tools, uniform and PPE provided.
- Benefits: holiday entitlement, company pension, Cycle to Work scheme, employee discount, health and wellbeing programme, on-site parking, and free tea and coffee.
How to apply
Apply through Indeed with an up-to-date CV and a short note about the gardens or grounds you have cared for, the machinery you use confidently and what interests you about the role.
Nedging Hall Estate is part of the Heathpatch Group. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will consider reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment.
Pay: £26,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
