Horticulture Apprentice

Outline of day-to-day duties:

To work with the landscape team in maintaining the 18th century grounds and surrounding gardens.  Maintenance of the landscape including general gardening tasks such as digging, mulching, watering, weeding, lawn edging, pruning, bed preparation and planting. To assist with plant propagation and nursery stock production. To help in the kitchen garden with sowing, harvesting and cultivating the crops. Use of some machinery including backpack blowers, strimmers, mowers and hedge cutters. To assist in some Estate duties e.g. fencing, path repairs, emptying bins and building maintenance etc. Ensure Health and Safety regulations are adhered to at all times. Assist with the set-up, take down and safe/smooth running of events.

This job description indicates only the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended as an exhaustive list.

 

Training:

Horticulture or landscape construction operative, Level 2 (GCSE)
Dedicated Performance Coach

24 months programme

Merrist Wood College day release

Functional Skills Maths and English if applicable

Training Outcome:

The usually expected career progression would be to become a gardener at a public / heritage garden or landscape. There is a possibility of a full-time post becoming available on completion at Painshill, depending on staffing levels / budgets, but there is no guarantee.

Employer Description:
Painshill is a Grade I listed 18th century landscape garden of international renown, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors a year. Inspired by landscape paintings and the Grand Tour through Europe, the Hon Charles Hamilton created Painshill between 1738 and 1773. A registered charity, the landscape at Painshill Park is managed by a team of gardeners and volunteers dedicated to ensuring the plant collections, history and heritage of Hamilton’s vision for Painshill can be enjoyed by everyone. In addition to the designed landscape, there are kitchen gardens, walled gardens, poly tunnels and herbaceous borders. Painshill is also custodian of a national plant heritage collection.

Working Hours :
Number of Hours: 37.5 Working days: 5 Lunch break length: 2 x half hour breaks Start Time: 7.30am Finish Time: 4pm

Skills:
Communication skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills,Customer care skills,Problem solving skills,Team working,Creative,Initiative,Non judgemental,Patience,Physical fitness,Postive attitude