Estates Gardener

Estates Gardener

Salary: up to £26,624 (pro rata for part time), dependent on experience and skills

Hours: Full time and part-time hours will be considered.

Based at Ampleforth Abbey, Ampleforth, YO62 4EN

About Ampleforth Abbey

Ampleforth Abbey is home to the UK’s largest Benedictine monastic community, rooted in the Rule of St Benedict.

Our mission is to seek God through prayer and service, and to invite others to experience faith in action.

Located in the Howardian Hills near York, the Abbey sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and welcomes thousands of visitors each year to its Retreat Centre, Visitor Centre, Shop and Tea Room.

Ampleforth Abbey Trust, a registered charity, works alongside the monastic community to support this mission.

With around 60 lay staff, the Trust delivers on a five-year strategy, choosing a Future Together, to ensure a sustainable, faith-led future for the Abbey and its valley home.

We are seeking an Estates Gardener who will be responsible for the care, maintenance, and ongoing development of the gardens and landscaped areas across Ampleforth Abbey Trust.

The postholder will ensure that all horticultural spaces are presented to a consistently high standard, supporting the beauty, tranquillity, and heritage of the Abbey grounds.

This role requires a skilled horticulturalist with strong practical ability, attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining healthy, well‑managed gardens throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance of Formal and Informal Gardens Care of herbaceous borders, ornamental beds, rose gardens, and seasonal displays, ensuring they remain attractive and well‑presented.
• Cultivation and Plant Husbandry Propagation, seed sowing, pruning, staking, mulching, watering, and general plant care, with a focus on maintaining plant health and vigour.
• Greenhouse Work Raising plants for borders and displays, managing tender species, and supporting cut‑flower and seasonal production.
• Tree and Shrub Care Light arboriculture tasks, formative pruning, and monitoring the condition of trees and shrubs, reporting issues where necessary.
• Grounds Presentation Maintenance of gardens, and garden structures, ensuring all areas remain tidy, safe, and visually attractive.
• Machinery and Equipment Safe and competent use of horticultural machinery and tools, including routine cleaning, basic maintenance, and reporting of repairs.
• ATV Operation – Ability to safely operate an ATV for transport of tools, materials, and personnel around the site.
• Seasonal and Weather‑Related Duties Leaf clearance, winter preparation, snow, ice clearance, and planting of bulbs and seasonal bedding.
• Support for Grounds‑Related Activities Assisting with garden‑based projects, improvements, and occasional events requiring horticultural support.
• Event Support – Assist with occasional out‑of‑hours events, including helping with parking management and general grounds support when required.

We are looking for someone who has;

• Strong horticultural knowledge, ideally supported by formal training.
• Experience working in gardens, estates, parks, or similar outdoor environments.
• Ability to identify plants, pests, and diseases, and apply appropriate treatments.
• High standards of workmanship and pride in garden presentation.
• Physical fitness and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Reliability, good communication skills, and the ability to work effectively within a grounds team.
• Ability to work independently and manage tasks efficiently
• Cut‑flower production.

What we offer

• Up to 8% employer-matched pension
• Life assurance
• Free lunch during working hours
• Free on-site parking
• 20% discount at the Tea room and Abbey Shop
• Christmas Closure
• Historic Houses and Yorkshire Great Houses, Castles and Gardens passes to borrow
• Employee Assistance programme
• Retail savings platform
• 50% discount on fitness suite, swimming and other activities at St Albans Centre

Ampleforth Abbey Trust is committed to the highest standards of safeguarding.

All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Interested?  If you feel that you possess the relevant skills and experience, then please send your cv by return to recruitment@ampleforthabbey.org.uk.

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