Head Gardener - Large Private Estate near Linton - South Cambridgeshire
(2024-12)
- Managing and Overseeing approx 40 acres of gardens
- Managing all areas to a exceptional finish
- Maintaining of all machines
- Undertaking planting, weed control, hedge cutting, mowing, paddock and woodland works And all other works relating to works on a private estate with owners in residence
- Overseeing the landscapers during the development of the gardens and managing contractors
- Offering design ideas and sourcing of plants and material
Grounds Team Leader - ARB ESTATES
(2023-04 - 2024-12)
Overseeing and managing the grounds team and grounds on a approx 200 acre private estate.
- Daily management of grounds staff and work practices and priorities
- Medium and longer term projects and works
- Assisting with annual budgets and general purchasing sourcing material at best prices
- Development and enhancing the formal elements to the estate
- Assisting with the installation and management of a 8 acre vineyard
- Sourcing new and Overseeing livestock
- Giving advice and recommendations for wider estate works and projects
- Tree and woodland works
- Sourcing and Overseeing contractors with works around the grounds
- Care of newly planting woodland schemes
- Vehicle maintenance and booking repairs and servicing
- General estate works to ensure site is maintained to high standards
- Last 12 months been heavily involved in lots of ground based infrastructure and developments
- Health and safety on a daily basis relating to works
- Overseeing biomass heating systems
- Paddock maintenance
- Use of large machinery
- Regular meetings with estate manager and owners on ground related subjects
Garden Landscapes Team Leader - Cambridge University Botanic Garden
(2021-01 - 2023-12)
Following a Horticultural department full restructure the deputy posts was changed by forming 3 team leaders managing larger teams.
- Overseeing and management of the Trees and Shrubs section and the Landscape and Machinery team
- Planning and overseeing budgets and projects relating to the landscape team and involvement with the 2 other teams project planning
- Directly manage 4 full time staff and 2 trainee horticultural students
- Oversee the work experience for the whole horticultural department and volunteers relating to the garden landscapes team
- Planning and implement more sustainable work practices and work towards a greener future with regards to machinery use
- Over see tree management, risk assessments related to section
- Management of the gardens lake and fountain
- Many of the duties highlighted in the Deputy Head of Horticulture role and Tree and Shrub Supervisor
Deputy Head of Horticulture - Cambridge University Botanic Garden
(2015-01 - 2021-12)
This is an extra responsibility on top of the Tree and Shrubs supervisor's role.
- Support and management of 23 Horticultural members of staff
- Approving purchases in relation to the budgets set
- Organising of work plans and priorities throughout the 7 sections that make up the Horticultural department
- Advice to 3rd parties and other departments on Horticultural matters
- Helping run the Student trainee program
- Run the gardens work experience program
- Involvement in garden development projects and policies
- Assist with admin duties relating to management of staff (holidays/illness/disciplinary matters/staff reviews)
- Interviewing
- Attending and leading training courses/conferences on behalf of the gardens
- Advising on curational and collection works with the Horticultural department
- Working alongside other Botanic garden departments Admin/education/finance/Estates
- Attending management meetings
Supervisor of Trees and Shrubs Section - Cambridge University Botanic Garden
(2006-01 - 2021-12)
Manage a team that includes an experienced horticulturist and a rotational trainee horticulturist. Currently still covering this role due to it being vacant.
- Planning and prioritising all works, proposing budgets and management of contractors
- Carrying out disciplinary procedures and staff management, including interviewing
- Active teaching role in trainee horticultural program
- Risk assessments and Health and Safety related tasks
- Leading tours to the public/professionals and funding bodies
- Tree and shrub related collection development and conservation
- Maintenance of all areas of the tree and shrub section including pruning, weed control, edging, cutting down herbaceous, leaf clearance, mulching
- Machinery use and maintenance – Tractor and trailer / hedge trimmer / strimmer / brushcutter / pedestrian mower (rotary and cylinder) and ride-on mower / leaf blower / wood chipper / chainsaws / mobile elevated platforms / spraying equipment
- Tree planting and care, tree surgery aerial and ground based operations, tree surveys and related health and safety issues
- General turf care and use of associated machinery – Turf laying, turf repairs, scarifying, aerating, over seeding, fertilizer application
- Propagation including seed sowing of tree / shrubs and annuals, division of perennials, taking and rooting cuttings and nurturing through to planting out
- Maintenance of plant collections under glass
- Recognition of garden pests and diseases - Selecting and applying suitable control measures including pesticide spraying
- Carrying out audits of beds and ensuring plants are correctly identified and labeled
- Basic hard and soft landscaping
- Curation of collections, successional planting plans, landscape management plans, selection of materials with known province, sourcing wild collected and material of conservational importance
- Mass clearance of tired boundaries, including felling, site preparation plant selection and re-planting
- Revamping plantings within existing Rose garden and Autumn colour areas
- Improvements to long grass meadows and creating wild flower meadows introduction of Rhinanthus minor (Yellow Rattle)
- Over seeing a full site tree safety inspection and carry out any required works
- Installing a 200m green cleft oak fence
Assistant Trees and Shrubs Section - Cambridge University Botanic Garden
(2000-01 - 2006-12)
I reported to the Trees and Shrubs Supervisor and assisted in the maintenance and development of the Tree and Shrub collections.
Trainee Horticulturist - Cambridge University Botanic Garden
(1998-01 - 2000-12)
- Worked to develop practical horticultural skills and plant knowledge on a rotational basis in all 7 sections of the Garden (Trees and Shrubs; Demonstration and Display; Systematic Beds; Alpine and Woodland; Experimental; Glasshouse and Landscape and Machinery)
- Attending plant identification tests and various lectures related to plants and horticulture
Horticultural consultant and fire wood supplier - Self-employed
(2011-01 - 2020-12)
Registered as a sole trader and gain external help from a self-employed gardener. Weekends and spare time.
- Development and maintenance of 2, 1 acre gardens, including the designing of new areas mainly involving soft landscaping and plant choices
- Producing and working within budgets and completing work schedules
- Undertook a 0.8-acre complete garden build mainly soft landscaping and planting designed by Robert Myers for my client
- Selection of plants from the design and sourced around 5000 plants including mature specimens and topiary
- Installation and maintenance of this garden including a grass tennis court, box parterre and hornbeam pleaches
- Helped in the early process of managing a 6 acre development design by Robert Myers
- Organising contractors/surveys/selection of plants and suppliers
- Running through design with clients from a practical point of view with regards to future management requirements
- Supplying barn seasoned firewood to local pubs and private residents, at peak nearly 50 clients, log splitter hire
