Morton Hall Gardens

Head Gardener Recruitment

Working at Morton Hall Gardens

We are looking for an individual who is excited about the opportunity to work in one of England’s most beautiful private gardens and willing to share our vision and passion for it.

Morton Hall is our private residence where we have lived since 2009. I am a scientist and publisher. My husband has also had a career in publishing and is currently the Chair of the National Trust.

Morton Hall Gardens were created between 2008 and 2011, under the auspices of British Garden Designer Charles Chesshire. Since 2013, our gardens have been opened for charity, and visitor numbers have been increasing each year. We are very proud that the public profile of Morton Hall Gardens is constantly growing as reflected by an unprecedented number of 14 publications in major horticultural magazines as well as a TV presentation.

We strive to achieve perfection in planting and presentation. Therefore, the Head Gardener needs to be an individual with outstanding horticultural knowledge and experience in all aspects of gardening. They will work closely with me as the General Manager of the estate and the Creative Director of the gardens.

All parts of the gardens continue to be developed, adding new plants and refining colour schemes. There is a clear vision for the character and atmosphere of the individual areas but there is plenty of scope for new ideas.

We work as a team where everyone contributes different talents, skills, and experience in a high energy environment. We seek out challenges and push ourselves to meet them. We are highly organised, manage time and resources efficiently and believe that good communication is essential to achieving our goals.

We provide excellent facilities, infrastructure, and equipment which we expect our employees to take good care of. We believe in enabling people and support them in every way so they can grow their skill set and take on new responsibilities.

We pride ourselves on our high standards in every aspect of running the estate.

We very much enjoy sharing our garden with horticulturally interested people whom we treat with kindness and attention. We want to make their visit a special experience and thrive on their praise. The Head Gardener will give guided talks to visiting groups and will have the opportunity to meet leading horticultural figures.

We rely on the trust and the loyalty of our staff. We treat them fairly and are always happy to discuss any matter or issue. Engagement, initiative, and commitment will be appreciated and rewarded. We cultivate a spirit of openness and mutual respect. We expect our staff to be open to feedback to further their professional development and achieve the highest possible quality of work.

We would love to talk to you if you feel that you are the right person for Morton Hall Gardens.

Anne Olivieri

Job Description Head Gardener Morton Hall

The Head Gardener, supported by a full-time and two part-time gardeners as well as several volunteers, is responsible for all aspects of horticulture and presentation of the garden, as well as garden facilities and irrigation. They work closely with and report to the owner, Anne Olivieri (AO), who is the General Manager of the estate and the Creative Director of the gardens. For accounting and HR purposes, the Head Gardener will liaise with the House Manager and Garden Administrator who is also in charge of plant ordering. Lawn-mowing and box topiary clipping are outsourced to contractors.

A General

B Horticulture

Any other duty reasonably required by AO in relation to horticulture

C Garden buildings, Paths, Pond, machinery and tools

E Supervision of Staff and Volunteers

The Head Gardener instructs and supervises the gardeners and volunteers in all horticultural duties, including

F Finance and Budgets

The Head Gardener is accountable for the expenditure on routine garden supplies and the lawn mowing contractor within the remit of the budget agreed with the Employer at the beginning of the year. This includes the

G Group Visits and Public Open Days

The Head Gardener and AO share the responsibility for guided garden tours for visiting groups regarding knowledge imparted and ensuring the visitors’ safety. On Public Open Days (one weekend in early May and one weekend at the end of August), the Head Gardener is expected to participate in the general organization and set up as well as the monitoring of parts of the garden.

H Security

I Terms & Conditions

The position is full time and includes accommodation in Morton Hall Lodge, a two-bedroom cottage with private drive and garden. Council tax, fiber optics, landline, water, electricity, and a car for work and local private use will be provided by the employer. The employer will cover all running and maintenance cost for the vehicle. Fuel for private usage and fluid gas for heating are to be covered by the employee.

J Qualifications