Location: Peterley Manor Farm, Buckinghamshire

Position: Permanent- full or part-time considered

Salary: Competitive, based on experience

About Us:

Peterley Manor Farm is a 40-acre horticultural farm nestled in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside. We are an award-winning farm shop and café, known for our sustainable farming practices and high-quality produce. As part of our growing farm operations, we are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Horticulturalist to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about large-scale crop production, sustainable growing practices, and farm-to-table operations.

Role Overview:

As our Horticulturalist, you will be responsible for growing a diverse range of crops on the farm, from large-scale horticultural crops like strawberries, pumpkins, sunflowers and apples to smaller-scale produce grown in our plant nursery, including salads, herbs, and vegetables for our Barn Kitchen café. You will also play an integral role in establishing and maintaining a new kitchen garden, ensuring we meet the growing demands of our café and farm shop.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of large-scale horticultural crops.
• Monitor and manage irrigation systems, ensuring optimal growing conditions for crops.
• Work with the Nursery Manager to assist with the propagation and growth of bedding plants as well as salads, herbs, and other vegetables for our café and farm shop.
• Develop and maintain planting schedules, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce.
• Lead the development and establishment of a kitchen garden to supply the café with high-quality, seasonal produce.
• Assist with the coordination of planting and harvesting schedules to ensure efficiency and productivity.

Required Experience:

• Experience working with large-scale horticultural crops, such as fruits and vegetables, is preferred.
• Proven experience working in a farm or nursery.
• A genuine passion for growing fresh, high-quality produce and a commitment to farm-to-table principles.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a team, including farm workers, kitchen staff, and management.
• The role requires outdoor, hands-on work, so a good level of physical fitness is essential.
• A full, clean driving license is desirable.
• Experience driving tractors and larger scale machinery would be a bonus.
• Spray qualifications (PA1, PA2 and PA6) are desirable but not essential.

Why Work With Us?:

• Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
• Benefits: Staff discounts across the farm shop and café, as well as a supportive and friendly working environment.
• Opportunities for Growth: As part of a growing farm, there will be opportunities for skill development, training, and career progression.
• Work with Fresh Produce: Be part of a dynamic team growing and cultivating produce that directly benefits our award-winning farm shop and café.

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about horticulture, enjoy working outdoors, and want to be part of a growing team, we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a cover letter to Carly at carly@peterleymanorfarm.co.uk.

Peterley Manor Farm is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.