Estate Worker/ Grounds Person

Estate Worker/Grounds Person

Job Description

Role: Estate Worker/Grounds Person

Reporting to: Senior Arborist

Important Relationships with: Head of Arboretum and Gardens, Senior Horticulturist.

Location: Marks Hall Estate, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1TG.

Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £ 20,481

Role description

Markshall Estate comprises over 2,000 acres of managed woodlands and a large Arboretum, and stunning Gardens set in over 200 acres of historic landscape. The Estate is actively planning and beginning to deliver a new organisational growth strategy (2020-25) with a focus on environmental sustainability, education, and wellbeing. The challenges to be met include developing recreational access facilities which are of the highest quality for over45,000 visitors per annum.

Markshall Estate’s Estate Worker/Grounds Person will be responsible for assisting in maintaining and developing the Estate, Gardens, and Arboretum. This will involve the day-to-day maintenance of mature and semi-mature trees, implementation of new plantings and the maintenance of ornamental areas and grassland. It will also include helping in the management of the Estates Woodlands. The supervision of volunteers is also an important part of this role.

Key duties

As part of the Arboretum Team, you will undertake necessary tasks and operations in accordance with instructions to ensure the Estate, Gardens and Arboretum are presented to a high professional standard for the enjoyment of visitors.

• Assist in all aspects of planting and maintaining woody and herbaceous material and the management of a wide range of grass swards and conservation areas.
• Assist in all aspects of Woodland Management including coppicing, ride management and pond restoration.
• Support in undertaking all aspects of tree work, including felling and pruning.
• Chipping brushwood.
• Plant trees and shrubs – bare root and containerised.
• Assist in plant nursery works including seed sowing and propagation.
• Formative pruning and ongoing care of Arboretum plantings.
• As part of the team use and maintain machinery and equipment according to instructions and legislation so that all operations are carried out with a high regard to safety.
• Assist in the regular maintenance of all equipment and undertaking monthly safety checks.
• As part of the team have responsibility for the security of the Arboretum buildings, machinery, tools, other equipment, chemicals, and stores.

General duties

• Encourage effective communications with other members of staff and volunteers.
• Assist in events at the property, which will involve some weekend and evening work.
• Assist with regular opening and closing of the property to the public, which may involve weekend rota work.
• As part of the team have responsibility for security of the buildings, machines, tools, and stores on site.
• Enforce Trust bylaws as part of the team.
• Be accountable for their own development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills.
• Peripatetic litter collection.
• Any other duties which may be reasonably requested by the Arboretum Manager and the Trust.
• Work within the terms and conditions of employment and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust.

Health and safety

• Observe all Health and Safety at Work Regulations set out by Markshall Estate in accordance with its statutory obligations and report deficiencies. Take reasonable care for the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and others who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.
• Ensure neither self or other staff; volunteers or visitors are put at risk and implement safe working practices.
• To be familiar with and actively instruct others in the safe use of equipment and materials.
• Assist in keeping the workplace a safe environment, including manual handling techniques, risk assessment, COSHH and fire checks.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• NPTC qualifications CS30.1 & CS30.2 Chainsaw maintenance and crosscut. (Desired but not essential).
• NPTC qualifications in Basic Chainsaw felling or CS31. (Desired but not essential).
• Experience (desired but not essential) in the operation of tractors and other Horticultural machinery including ride-on and pedestrian mowers, hedge trimmer and brush cutters.
• NPTC qualification PA1 PA6 spraying certificate. (Desired but not essential)

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £20,481.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 12/05/2023