Gardener (Grade 4)

Job description

About

Job title: Gardener (Grade 4)

Job Category: Building Services & Maintenance

Location: Telford Street, Newport, Newport, NP19 0ES, Newport City Council

Hours per week: 37

Salary £13.69 per hour

The shift pattern will be 730 - 330 in the summer months and 9-5 in winter months on a rota basis to ensure cover to lock Belle Vue park gates. Monday-Friday.

Job Purpose

To be responsible for the practical horticultural application of Newport’s prestigious ornamental parks Belle Vue and Beechwood. The post holder must have good communications skills, demonstrate an ability to use horticultural machinery and has excellent horticultural practical skills.

Key Results Areas

1. To use a high level of gardening skills to meet the horticultural standards within the specification and to undertake all horticultural operations, including:

• Planning Victorian bedding schemes calculating plant numbers, identification, setting out and planting.

• Shrub beds, rockery, herbaceous beds, waterside planting and wild flower meadow areas, to be maintained to ‘best practice’ horticultural standards.

• Interpretation of survey plans e.g. knowledge of contours, levels, marking out on site and ground preparation.

• All aspects of turf maintenance, mowing, edging, strimming, spraying and reinstatement works etc.

• Tree care, planting, maintenance and basic visual inspections.

• Application of chemicals, herbicides, pesticides etc.

• To have good plant knowledge and husbandry skills.

Education/Qualifications/Knowledge

1.1 Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture

1.2 A minimum of two years' proven practical experience in heritage horticulture, Knowledge of plant identification and disorders

1.3 Possess a spraying certificate PA1 PA6A

1.4 Understanding of good health and safety working practices in respect of Grounds Maintenance work

1.5 Knowledge of Health & Safety at Work Regulations

1.6 Possess knowledge of mechanical plant/equipment and its maintenance (or be prepared to undertake training)

1.7 Full manual driving licence

Experience

2.1 Able to demonstrate all practical aspects of horticulture, including grass cutting and general horticultural machinery

2.2 Experience of soft landscaping work

2.3 Experience of using mowing equipment and small plant (e.g. pedestrian mowers, strimmers etc.)

Aptitudes and Skills

3.1 Ability to work on own initiative with minimum supervision

3.2 Able to work to deadlines

3.3 Good communication skills - oral and written

3.4 Ability to interpret plant plans

3.5 A willingness and ability to undertake further training and learn new skills

3.6 Punctuality and reliability

Personal Attributes

4.1 Ability to demonstrate a commitment to the improvement and development of the gardening team as a whole

4.2 Flexible approach to people and work

4.3 Willingness to assist colleagues when necessary

4.4 Have a pleasant manner and positive attitude