Following a change in personal circumstance, a wonderful opportunity has arisen to join a fresh, dynamic garden team caring for the award-winning Newby Hall Gardens and help further the development of one of the finest privately owned gardens in the North of England.
Newby Hall & Gardens
Newby Hall is one of the most well-loved gardens in North Yorkshire. The formal gardens extend to circa 25 acres. The majority of the garden you see today was created in the 1920’s and has been extended and developed by three generations of the Compton family. The award-winning gardens are of international renown, most recently being named Garden of the Year in 2019 – the only garden to have won this award twice. The famous 172m double herbaceous borders, the longest of their kind in a private garden, form the central axis of the garden alongside which, smaller compartmentalised gardens unfold. The garden is home to extensive plant collections, most notably the National Collection of flowering Cornus, which in May 2025 was showcased at the floral pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flowershow where it was awarded a Gold medal.
There is always room for development, with a major focus of recent years being the restoration of the 1914 Rock Garden which was completed in Spring 2026 after a 7 year long redevelopment project. In addition to the formal gardens, there are two heritage orchards totalling around 7 acres and two ornamental woodlands comprising of an additional 25 acres.
Opened to the public in the 1950s, the garden currently receives around 100,000 visitors per year, with the Hall and Gardens opening from the 1st April through to the end of September. The Estate hosts numerous events throughout the open season, culminating with the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show which brings circa 25,000 garden lovers through the gates.
Overview of position
As Experienced Gardener (Propagator), in conjunction with the Head Gardener, you will be responsible for the management of the Glasshouses and Nursery that service the garden at Newby Hall. This extends to the production of annual plants for seasonal displays, the propagation of various herbaceous plants for use around the garden as well as the ongoing propagation of unusual trees and shrubs to secure the long-term survival of the extensive woody plant collection at Newby. Annually the nursery produces in excess of 5000 plants for use in and around the garden.
You will take care of the numerous houseplants that are displayed in the Hall as well as providing seasonal potted plant displays annually.
Notable plant collections within the nursery include, Salvia, Dahlia, Streptocarpus, and Pelargonium
The nursery and propagation area is comprised of a spacious potting shed, two large glasshouses, the biggest of which is divided into six different zones, a large open standing out area for growing on potted plants, coldframes and an area of open ground for lining out plants.
Outside of the Nursery, as required, you will work with the highly skilled gardening team in developing and maintaining the 25 acre garden to a high standard of horticulture
Experience, Skills and Qualification
As a trained, professional horticulturist, you will possess great plant knowledge, demonstrable knowledge and experience in propagation and overseeing a garden-based nursery with a sound understanding of wider horticultural practices such as pruning, planting and border maintenance. Ideally, you will hold a recognised horticultural qualification, RHS Level 3 or equivalent, while experience in the safe operation of a range of garden machinery and a Pa1/6 spraying certificate is desirable.
You must have the ability to manage your time effectively and efficiently, be able to prioritise workload, be happy working independently or as part of a team; as well as the confidence to interact with the visiting public and working professionals.
A full driving licence is essential due to the rural location of the estate which is not accessible via public transport.
This is a permanent position, working hours are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday to Friday (spring and summer weekend watering on a rota with time in Lieu).
Salary £27,331
20 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
A generous staff discount is offered in our shop and restaurant as well as access to all public events held on the estate.
Please apply in writing with a covering letter explaining why you think you are the perfect candidate along with a CV with relevant horticultural experience and contact details to Head Gardener, Lawrence Wright at The Estate Office, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE or by email to [email protected]
Pay: £27,331.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
Licence/Certification:
- PA1 Pesticide Certificate (preferred)
- PA6 Spraying Licence (preferred)
- RHS Level 3 or equivalent (required)
Work Location: In person
