Sole Gardener - Country House, near Chippenham

Salary: up to £35,000 DOE

Location: Near Chippenham

Job No: EC72817

An enthusiastic and passionate Sole Gardener is sought to take responsibility for the maintenance, care, and ongoing development of the gardens and wider grounds of a beautifully designed private large country house near Chippenham. The property sits within a working farm setting but is distinctly ornamental in character, offering formal design, productive gardens, and extensive natural surroundings.

Set within 170 acres, the approach to the house is via a 200-metre driveway, bordered by neatly manicured hedging. To the front lies a ha ha, while to the rear a striking circular courtyard garden forms a central feature. This space is enclosed by pleached lime trees and planted with mixed borders and shrubs, with a water feature at its centre, providing a strong visual focal point that connects the surrounding garden areas. The grounds also include extensive lawns, tennis court, and a swimming pool, all of which require a high standard of presentation and care. To the north of the pool is a well established kitchen and cut flower garden, alongside a one acre productive orchard comprising mature apple, pear, and plum trees.

Beyond the formal gardens, the estate opens into a wider rural landscape, including farmland, 34 acres of woodland, and areas of natural wetland rich in wildlife. This offers scope for broader grounds work, including woodland maintenance, biodiversity enhancement, and the careful integration of cultivated and natural environments.

The successful candidate will be a skilled gardener ideally with formal horticultural training (RHS level 2 or equivalent desirable), practical hands on experience, and a genuine passion for plants, and garden development. During the first year whilst work is taking place on the house, the role will be mainly maintenance focused; however, it is an exciting opportunity to work closely with the owners to further develop and evolve the gardens over time. Spray and chainsaw certificates would be advantageous but not essential - training can be provided.

• ongoing maintenance of the beds and borders, lawns, water features, care of the kitchen and cut flower garden
• orchard management
• seasonal planting, pruning, irrigation management, propagation, and general estate presentation to a high standard throughout the year

Additional duties involve groundwork in the wider estate, including light woodland management, hedge maintenance, clearing waterways, pond management and repairing gates / fences. The role may extend into supporting agricultural or estate activities depending on the candidate's skills and interests.

This position is ideally suited to a motivated and capable gardener who is looking for a long term opportunity to take ownership of a diverse and beautifully established country estate. The owners are seeking someone who can bring initiative, plant knowledge, and a thoughtful approach, with the ambition to help shape the gardens over the next five to ten years.

This is a rare opportunity to join a distinctive private estate at an exciting stage of its development, combining formal garden excellence with productive horticulture and a wider naturalistic landscape.