Gardener

The main site covers some 12 acres and has been under cultivation since 1879 in various guises for the enjoyment of Scholars, Fellows and College staff. These include: central Quads, fellow's gardens, borders and lawn, display borders and pot displays for conferences, punt house and sports grounds, riverside woodland and meadows, fellow and student residences, Principal's residence, and Porter's Lodge border.
The gardens are currently overseen by a skilled small team of three, led by a Head Gardener, and our dedicated gardening staff look after the many lawns, borders, meadows, woodland, species of plants, shrubs and trees that surround the college buildings.
Notable parts of the garden include extensive perennial and herbaceous borders and we use a diverse range of plants in our border schemes. We sit next to the River Cherwell and have natural water and wildlife meadows which are managed for the encouragement of wild flowers and wildlife. We benefit from some south facing walls and areas of favourable microclimate allow us to grow borderline hardy climbers and other temperate species. Greenhouse facilities allow us to propagate a wide range of plant material. For more details, visit the College website: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/

Relationships:
1. Responsible to: Head Gardener
2. Liaison with: College Gardeners

Gardening Priorities and Main Duties
The College has a history of having "democratic", unique and useable gardens, which it wishes to maintain.
This includes the following features:

• Students using the lawns and gardens, including playing football and croquet on the hockey pitch and main lawns (but the lawn is not a sports pitch per se).



• Wilder areas and woodland areas within the garden alongside certain specific "priority" borders in order to enhance and conserve biodiversity, contributing to The Oxford University Environmental Sustainability Strategy.



• The potential for the development of the herb garden and fruit beds, to encourage greater student participation in and awareness of LMH biodiversity and conservation initiatives.



• Facilitating and encouraging student participation, where possible, in the gardens as part of wider college well-being initiatives.



• Encouraging biodiversity within LMH gardens, showcasing LMH's positive actions and ambitions towards providing biodiverse habitats, links and corridors across Oxford city.



• Gardening in a sympathetic and sustainable manner, contributing to positive change and wider engagement amongst the collegiate community.



• Gardening with a view to using plants that will thrive in changing climatic conditions.



• Producing a garden that is distinctive, beautiful and welcoming.


Main Duties of the role:

• Day-to-day cultivation, maintenance and development of the College's plant collection, tree collection and lawns. Communicating specific needs to the Head Gardener.


• Developing the gardens throughout the year, including planters and pots around the College, with due regard to College events.


• Collaborate with other College departments to prepare the gardens for significant events such as (but not only) College Balls, Gaudies, annual LMH Summer Programmes, summer schools, Development and Principal's events.


• Demonstrate a sound knowledge of horticultural techniques and apply them to the following:

Border maintenance - lifting and dividing, cutting back, staking, tying-in, dead heading and watering.
Pruning of shrubs, climbers, small trees and hedge cutting to suit plant requirements.
Lawn culture - mowing, feeding, selective weed-killing, edging, scarification, top dressing, spiking, turf laying, grass seeding and leaf sweeping. We approach this in a low-intensity, minimal chemical manner.
Propagation - Carry out techniques according to season and species requirements, sowing, dividing, layering, cuttings, hygiene, ventilation and shading.

• Ensure glasshouse and nursery propagation and growing for ongoing border and pot displays in preparation for significant college events, keeping in mind at all times benefits to LMH conservation and biodiversity initiatives.


• Use of horticultural machinery, carrying out daily cleaning and lubrication as required, and communicating faults and issues. Training will be provided.


• Observe and report back to the Head Gardener on plant health, pests and diseases. Monitor the effectiveness of control measures.


• Working at height with ladders for pruning trees and climbers. MEWP training available.


• In-house composting.


• Carry out all duties safely in accordance with the College Health and Safety Policy.


• To undertake any training in the use of equipment and courses as required. Personal horticultural development encouraged and supported.


• To participate in projects as directed by the Head Gardener.


• Other duties as required by the College.
  
  Experience in a similar role.


• Enthusiasm for horticulture and a willingness to learn and develop knowledge.


• Able to apply knowledge of species requirements when maintaining plant collection.


• Understand weather and plant requirements and water according to each individual need.


• The ability to answer horticulture questions asked by members of the public and guests of the College in a polite, friendly and approachable manner.


• The ability to work independently and as part of a wider team according to priorities and workload.


• Strong evidence of experience in a similar role/s, or hold a RHS Certificate or other qualification in the theory of horticulture, with evidence of working experience.


• Work safely at heights including off ladders, safely carry out regular manual handling activities and work outside in different weather conditions.


• Good level of general computer/IT skills including Excel.


• Ability to use own initiative in order to work as part of a team and/or independently as required.


Desirable

• Demonstrate a sound knowledge of gardening techniques.


• Strong communication skills.


• The ability to deliver consistently, agreed horticultural procedures in a professional manner.


• Willing to undertake training as provided by the College or external provider.


• Hold NPTC Spraying certificates. Hold NPTC Chainsaw certificates.


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  A principal aim of this College's Equal Opportunities Policy is to ensure that in the recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, development and promotion of employees, the only consideration must be that the individual best meets, or is likely to meet, the requirements of the programme or course or post.

Lady Margaret Hall is committed to provide a learning, working and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members are respected, and which is free from prejudice, intimidation and all forms of harassment, including bullying. We seek to ensure that no-one suffers, either directly or indirectly, as a result of discrimination.
Lady Margaret Hall has a range of family friendly policies.
Issued by the HR Office
April 2024

About LMH
LMH began with nine women and is now a vibrant academic community transforming the lives of hundreds of students. We are diverse, open, intellectually curious and pioneering. We continue to break boundaries as the first Oxford College to establish a Foundation Year for under-represented students.

The salary will be c. £26,000 per annum FTE. Benefits of working for the College include 36 days holiday (including bank holidays), pro rata for part time appointments, the option to join a University pension scheme and one free meal whilst on duty and the kitchens are open, when the kitchens are closed a meal allowance will be paid. Additional benefits include discounted bus/train travel to commute to work or salary sacrifice bicycle scheme, employee assistance programme, annual flu jab and eye examination, regular staff social events, staff parties and wellbeing activities.
Working hours - 22.5 hours per week, with exact working days to be agreed upon appointment.
There will be an initial probationary period of six months. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.