Gardener jobs in Banbury

Estate Head Gardener – Banbury, North Oxfordshire
Live-out | £38,000 – £43,000 per annum | Full-time, Permanent

Family Description and Location

A beautiful, privately-owned, organically certified estate in North Oxfordshire is seeking a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Estate Head Gardener. This is a rare opportunity to join a team at a transformative stage in the estate’s development. The 16-acre gardens and wider grounds surround a sixteenth-century manor house and are undergoing thoughtful redesign led by an innovative landscape studio.

The gardens — already well known and featured in House & Garden, Gardens Illustrated, House of Interiors and Vogue — include ornamental borders, a walled productive garden, orchard, cutting gardens, a nuttery, wildflower meadows, glasshouse, gravel garden, shrub and flowering tree walk, wetland, ponds, lawns, formal hedging, and topiary. A commitment to organic principles and regenerative land management underpins the estate’s ethos, with a strong focus on promoting biodiversity.

A cut flower business also operates from the grounds and will form part of the Head Gardener’s area of involvement and support.

Job Description

We are looking for an outstanding, experienced, and passionate gardener to take the lead role in maintaining and developing the gardens to the highest horticultural standards. You will oversee a team of two full-time gardeners and coordinate seasonal and long-term tasks in line with the estate’s vision and new design plans.

Responsibilities include:

• Care for and maintain all aspects of the estate’s 16 acres of grounds, including ornamental areas, orchard, walled garden, wildflower meadows, ponds, glasshouse, and more
• Execute seasonal and routine horticultural tasks such as planting, weeding, pruning, mulching, deadheading, fertilising, and watering
• Maintain and enhance the visual quality of the garden through expert border and structural work including topiary, hedging and lawn care
• Support the implementation of new planting schemes in collaboration with the estate's design team
• Uphold and further the estate’s regenerative and organic principles
• Manage and maintain garden machinery and equipment, ensuring safe and appropriate use
• Keep clear and accurate records of horticultural activities and plant care
• Lead by example and support the development and growth of the wider garden team
• Take direction from the Estate owners and their representatives, while also using initiative to plan and manage day-to-day work
• Assist in the care and harvesting of the estate’s cutting gardens, including flowers for the estate’s commercial floristry enterprise
• Provide occasional support for the family with flexibility for early mornings or weekends, as required

Candidate Requirements

Essential:

An excellent Gardener, with a minimum of three years in a similar level role at a Historic or Private Estate

• A positive team player with strong communication skills
• Excellent and demonstrable plant knowledge
• High-level border work, with strong attention to detail
• Excellent pruning skills – confident with perennials, shrubs and climbers
• Demonstrable experience in maintaining hedges, lawns, hard landscaping and wildflower meadows
• Competent using power tools (hedge trimmers, strimmers, etc.)
• Experience in vegetable and soft fruit cultivation
• Full clean UK driving licence
• Ability to operate vehicles such as ride-on mowers and estate vans (manual or automatic) beneficial
• Capable of working independently and to a high standard without supervision
• Curiosity or experience in cut flower cultivation
• Experience managing freelance or seasonal gardening support when needed
• A Level 3 horticultural qualification (or equivalent professional training)

Days of Work and Salary

Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:30

• Flexibility required for occasional early mornings or weekend duties to support the family
• Salary: £38,000 – £43,000 gross per annum, depending on experience and references
• Holiday: 28 days per annum (including bank holidays)
• Start date: As soon as possible — we are happy to wait for the right candidate

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £38,000.00-£43,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person