Tree Nursery Operative

Job description

Do you enjoy practical, hands-on work and like the idea of spending your working day outdoors rather than being stuck inside?

I'm recruiting for a Tree Nursery Operative to join an ambitious and growing tree nursery near Biggleswade. The nursery specialises in producing semi-mature trees, hedging and large shrubs, with its trees ultimately planted in parks, streets, schools and new communities across the UK.

For someone looking to build a long-term career in horticulture, arboriculture or nursery production, this is an excellent place to start or take your next step.

What will you be doing?

This is a very varied role, and you won't spend every day doing the same thing.

Working as part of a small, hands-on nursery team, your responsibilities will include:

• Growing and caring for trees including pruning, potting, caning, feeding, transplanting and planting.
• Monitoring trees for pests, diseases and general plant health, taking action where required.
• Maintaining the nursery through weeding, spraying, grass cutting, hedge cutting, strimming and general grounds work.
• Helping maintain and repair irrigation systems and supporting fertiliser and fertigation programmes.
• Preparing trees to a high standard for customer orders and dispatch.
• Safely loading and unloading trees and assisting with deliveries when required.
• Operating agricultural vehicles, machinery and equipment, with appropriate training provided.
• Helping to keep the wider site organised, tidy and operating to high environmental and sustainability standards.

The work changes throughout the seasons, making this a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety and wants to develop a broad range of practical skills.

What are we looking for?

More than anything, we're looking for the right attitude.

You could already be working in horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, forestry or a similar outdoor environment. Equally, you might be looking to move into the sector for the first time.

We'd like to hear from you if you:

• Genuinely enjoy working outdoors in all weathers.
• Have a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Are reliable, honest and happy to take responsibility for your work.
• Enjoy practical, physical and hands-on tasks.
• Are willing to learn new skills and get stuck in where needed.
• Can work effectively both independently and as part of a small team.
• Have good communication and organisational skills.
• Take a flexible, common-sense approach to solving problems.
• Hold a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications that would be useful

If you already have any of the following, fantastic:

• PA1/PA6 spraying certificates
• LANTRA qualifications
• NPORS or CPCS qualifications
• First Aid training
• NVQ or other horticultural qualifications

Don't be put off if you don't have them. Training and development are a key part of the opportunity, and relevant qualifications can be gained as you progress.

What's on offer?

• £26,500 - £32,000 salary, dependent on experience.
• Full training and ongoing professional development.
• The opportunity to gain additional industry qualifications.
• Scope to progress as the nursery grows.
• A supportive, close-knit working environment.

Why consider this opportunity?

There's something particularly rewarding about growing a product that could still be standing decades from now.

The trees you help produce could eventually form part of a new park, line a street, provide shade in a school or become established within a new community somewhere in the UK. Whether you stay for twenty weeks or build a twenty-year career, you'll be able to see the impact of the work you've done.

The nursery is also entering an exciting period of growth and investment, creating opportunities for people who join now to develop their skills and grow alongside the business.

So, if you're looking for an outdoor career where you can learn, develop and finish the day knowing you've produced something tangible, we'd love to hear from you.

Interested? For an informal chat, please call Emily on (phone number removed), email (url removed) or message me on LinkedIn. Don't worry if your CV isn't up to date, just send what you have already, and we can sort the rest later.

Reference 225684747