The UK has more than 30,000 public parks managed by local authorities, many with deserved high reputations. These parks, many designed in Victorian times, now have to meet the more recent demands of surrounding communities and are becoming more important in fighting climate change, air pollution, public health conditions and community inclusion.

Head Gardeners /Head Grounds Maintenance Workers are generally employed by local councils and private companies managing parks, open and green spaces. They work to maintain and develop public parks and open spaces for the benefit of local residents and visitors.

They supervise and allocate work to teams of gardeners and landscaping staff. This job role gives the opportunity for plenty of ‘hands on’ work as well as opportunities for those who wish to get into the managerial side of park and green space management.

Their main tasks are usually to:

• Organise maintenance of parks and open spaces
• Plan landscaping and planting of flowers, shrubs and trees
• Organise planting programmes at appropriate times of year
• Arrange areas and facilities designated for sports and recreation purposes
• Engage and work with community and volunteer groups
• Organise and plan events in parks
• Ensure environmental and conservation requirements are optimised.

Much of their time is spent checking on the progress and quality of maintenance and planting programmes. Their teams can vary from a couple of people to over twenty, according to the number of sites and the areas covered.

Head Gardener/Head Grounds Maintenance Workers also:

• Ensure vehicles and equipment used by their teams are maintained
• Plan ahead to ensure people and materials are available at the right times of year
• Work with other members of staff to regenerate horticultural features, such as plant beds
• Establish the future needs of parks and open spaces by consulting with the local community
• Ensure all health and safety guidelines are followed
• Discuss policy matters and write reports
• Prepare proposals for services and products and gather data on sites
• Prepare estimates and work to budgets
• Ensure staff receive all the necessary training.

Working Conditions 

Standard working hours for a Head Gardener/Head Grounds Maintenance Worker are 35 to 37 a week, Monday to Friday. At times actual hours worked may be more flexible according to the season and jobs in hand, sometimes including evenings and weekends.

A fair amount of time is spent working on plans, budgets, project organisation, administration and communication to all the various partnership organisations and the public.

However, the majority of time is spent outdoors in all weathers, visiting parks, open spaces, sports areas or depots where teams and equipment are based. Their work involves considerable walking around sites. 

Some parks officers manage work at sites that are some distance apart, so a driving licence may be necessary.

Next steps

There may be opportunities for promotion to senior or management positions, especially in councils with larger parks departments. Some people move to management positions in other areas of council work.

Promotion opportunities may be more limited in some private companies. Employees sometimes progress by moving into other areas of amenity and leisure management.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

A plant pathologist is someone who's interested in understanding the organisms and agents that cause plant diseases and how diseases affect plant health. There are a great range of plant pathology careers. Most plant pathologists work in university departments, commercial companies or do government funded research.

Some of the things a plant pathologist does:

• Diagnose and deal authoritatively with enquiries about plant disease
• Undertake research, publish results and communicate the results to gardeners
• Assist in the preparation of proposals for research projects
• Work with relevant organisations and attend conferences to promote horticultural plant pathology
• Help prepare lectures, examination materials and demonstrations on plant diseases.

Pathologists are mainly employed as researchers or consultants who work in a variety of fields aimed at tackling crop or garden pests and the insects and diseases that spread plant, human and animal diseases. Pathologists are also concerned with the conservation of our native flora & fauna and their habitats.

Most pathologists are employed by various public organisations, such as the research institutes, museums, universities and national and local government departments concerned with agriculture, horticulture, health, conservation and environmental protection.

In the private sector they are employed by agricultural estates, pest control contractors and companies that develop and manufacture biological and chemical insecticides, and by environmental consultants, County Wildlife Trusts and other environmental charities.

Working Conditions 

Working hours will vary according to the exact nature of the job.

Plant Pathologists working in research and higher education usually work a standard full time week, Monday to Friday. Additional hours may be required at busy times. Those working in conservation may be required to host open days for the public or work with volunteers at weekends and bank holidays. They may also have to go to evening meetings.

Plant Pathologists can work all over the world and may have to cope with difficult climates. Fieldwork can be physically demanding.

A driving licence is often required to travel between different places of work.

Next steps

Progression usually involves taking on more responsibility for projects and advising or managing others.

In universities, progression may be from researcher to lecturer, then to higher grades, such as senior lecturer, principal lecturer, reader, professor or head of department.

There may be an established career structure in industry, with experienced plant pathologists being promoted to more senior positions.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Landscapers create and look after planting and other features in outdoor and indoor spaces, making the most of the land available and creating attractive environments. Outdoor spaces include:

• Gardens
• Housing estates
• Parks
• Sports grounds
• Industrial sites.

Some Landscapers specialise in interior landscapes, producing displays of plants and water features to brighten buildings  such as shopping centres, offices and hospitals.

Landscaper tasks vary from project to project but can include:

• Working from plans drawn up by a landscape architect or garden designer
• Discussing plans, ideas and budgets with the client
• Preparing the ground using equipment like mini-diggers, as well as spades and forks
• Installing features such as paths, paved areas, statues, rock gardens or water features
• Planting flowers, shrubs and trees, seeding lawns and laying turf
• Advising clients on maintaining the plants and landscape, or returning at regular intervals to carry out ongoing maintenance.

Some Landscapers specialise in skills like paving, constructing rock or water gardens, or creating sports fields, creating greenroofs and living walls. Larger landscape companies carryout commercial landscape projects as well as maintaining the green areas in our towns and cities. Others may offer a wide range of general skills.

Landscapers use a range of hand and power tools including garden mowers, pruners, spades, forks, cement mixers, stone-cutting saws, chainsaws and climbing equipment.

On small projects Landscapers may work alone or with one or two other staff. On large projects they usually work in teams under the direction of a supervisor.

Working Conditions 

Landscapers usually work standard full-time hours but overtime including weekends is often required to meet schedules. Early starts are common. Temporary work may be available at busy times.

Many jobs involve working outside in all weather conditions, although interior landscapers work indoors. The work can be very heavy as it can involve digging, pushing loaded wheelbarrows and lifting paving slabs.

Landscapers wear protective clothing including overalls, gloves and safety boots, and use protective equipment such as ear protectors and hard hats when required.

A driving licence may be useful for travelling between sites. Some jobs involve staying away from home.

Next steps

With experience and training, Landscapers may be able to move into supervisory roles. Qualifications such as a HNC/HND in Horticulture may be useful for landscapers who want to progress to landscape management roles.

With appropriate qualifications it may also be possible to move into training or teaching. Landscapers can also become self-employed.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Landscape Supervisors are experienced in dealing with all aspects of garden and landscape design, able to create and look after planting and other features in outdoor and indoor spaces, making the most of the land available and creating attractive environments.   

They generally provide a complete design service to clients enabling garden owners to enhance and make the most of their gardens. Outdoor spaces they can work on include: gardens, housing estates, parks, sports grounds and industrial sites.

Landscape Supervisors may choose to specialise in interior landscapes, producing displays of plants and water features to brighten buildings like shopping centres, offices and hospitals.

Some Senior Landscapers may work with clients to design gardens to suit individual requirements and tastes. The design process will take into account people's lifestyles and personal preferences.

Landscape Supervisors tasks vary from project to project but can include:

• Discussing ideas with clients, their preferences for particular plants, flowers, colours, and how they want to use the garden
• Preparing a summary of the client's requirements and an estimate of the fees, which may include creating the garden designed
• Advising clients on maintaining the plants and landscape, or returning at regular intervals to carry out ongoing maintenance
• Supervising team of contractors.

Some specialise in skills like paving, constructing rock or water gardens, or creating sports fields, creating green roofs or living walls. Larger landscape companies carryout commercial landscape projects as well as maintaining the green areas in our towns and cities. Others may offer a wide range of general skills.

Working Conditions 

Landscape Supervisors usually work standard full-time hours but overtime (sometimes including evenings and weekends) is often required to meet schedules. Early starts are common. Temporary work may be available at busy times.

Many jobs involve working outside in all weather conditions, although interior landscapers work indoors. The work can be very heavy as it can involve digging, pushing loaded wheelbarrows and lifting paving slabs. Conditions may be wet, muddy, very cold or very hot, and there may be noise, fumes and dust from the machinery that is used.

A driving licence may be useful for travelling between sites. Some jobs involve staying away from home.

Next steps

Qualifications such as a HNC/HND in Horticulture may be useful for Landscape Supervisors who want to progress to landscape management roles.

With appropriate qualifications it may be possible to move into training or teaching. Senior Landscapers can also become self-employed.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Landscape Managers specialise in planning, designing, supervising and managing projects relating to the green space environment. They make sure that developments are suitable and advise others on the long-term care of the landscape.

Their work can be found everywhere from inner-city squares to shopping centres, parks, coastlines and countryside. Whether they are transforming a derelict industrial area or designing a landscape to complement a heritage site, Landscape Managers aim to produce pleasant places to live, work and relax that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

There is a huge demand for well-designed green space areas and Landscape Managers are key players in tackling climate change, developing sustainable communities and regenerating towns and cities across the country.

They work on a wide range of landscapes, including:

• Nature conservation areas and wildlife parks
• Historic gardens
• Woodlands (including those used for recreation)
• Motorway verges
• Public parks
• Housing estates.

Landscape Managers rarely carry out practical work but they do use their knowledge of plants and the environment to advise on the long-term, sustainable care and development of the landscape.

Tasks vary from job to job but may include:

• Talking to clients about projects
• Surveying sites and investigating its resources
• Deciding on appropriate sites for features such as footpaths
• Consulting those who are near proposed developments
• Overseeing the work of employees and contractors
• Advising on planning applications and public enquiries
• Estimating the costs of constructing the landscape and maintaining it once it is complete

Working Conditions 

Landscape Managers in the public sector usually work a standard full-time week, Monday to Friday. This may include evening meetings and additional hours to meet deadlines. Those in private practice may work longer, more irregular hours. Part-time or flexitime work may be available.

Landscape Managers are usually based in an office and may spend a lot of time attending meetings. Some jobs involve travelling to sites and working outdoors in all weather conditions. Walking, often over rough ground, and some climbing may be required. A driving licence may be useful.

Next steps

Landscape Managers looking to progress may choose to set up their own business or move into positions where they are in charge of large property estates.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

A Horticultural Technician is someone who specialises in a specific area of horticulture, such as quality assurance, irrigation, spraying, glasshouses, soil or is part of a team working in laboratories.

Some of the things a Horticultural Technician could do:

• Diagnose and deal with enquiries about plant disease
• Check that produce meets required standards
• Manage irrigation systems
• Manage environmental controls within a production environment.

Working Conditions 

Working hours will vary according to the exact nature of the job. You may be called on at all hours to find solutions to problems with technical systems, so flexibility is key. A driving licence is often required to travel between different places of work.

Inspecting and testing produce Identifying problems and finding solutions Comparing with requirements Checking measuring and testing equipment and plant quality Making decisions on quality Keeping records of results.

Next steps

Horticultural Technicians can progress to more senior positions within the organisation such as lead technician, or they can specialise in jobs like botanist, plant pathologist or agronomist.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Horticulture Production Workers are employed in food production or ornamental plant production, such as ornamental plant nurseries, fruit and vegetable production farms, cut flower grower farms, or on any farm or site that produces plants.

Ornamental plants can be produced to end up in your local park or the shelves of garden centres. The trees, shrubs and flowers we all enjoy looking at are grown at ornamental plant nurseries but can’t be eaten.

Fruit and vegetable production for apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, mushrooms, watercress takes place in fruit and vegetable nurseries and farms.

Both areas of production may include either field production or protected production in glasshouses or plastic tunnels.

The technology involved in growing ornamental and edible plants, plus the job opportunities from management to marketing make working on an ornamental or fruit or veg nursery a rewarding career. 

Horticultural Production Workers are involved in:

• Growing plants, including sowing seeds, planting bulbs, cultivating cuttings

• Continuing to nurture plants by watering, weeding, pruning, and nutrients

• Identifying and dealing with pests and diseases

• Working in teams to produce, pick and pack the final product
• Customer service
• Picking and packing of produce
• Retailing of produce.

Some plant production centres can be quite large and require many different skills, such as production areas, garden centres and packhouse and dispatch areas.

The work can be challenging and affected by the weather and the changing seasons.

There are opportunities to progress to supervising a team of Horticultural Production Workers or specialise within a specific technical area such as irrigation specialist or soil specialist.

Working Conditions 

The hours vary depending on the type of farm or production nursery and on the season. In large farms or nurseries staff may work a standard full-time week. In many businesses early starts are needed in the summer months.

In both types of production businesses, weekend work, late evenings and overtime are common. Part-time and casual jobs are available.

The work is rewarding and can be physically demanding.

Next steps

Horticultural Production Workers could progress to supervisory positions within teams. If they gain technical experience and qualifications within a specific area they can become a Horticultural Production Technician or Specialist with specific areas of responsibility.

Different areas in the UK specialise in particular types of production depending on the climate and soil.

There are also many jobs outside growing. Supermarkets require field officers to manage the need for a daily supply of fresh produce, and suppliers need specialist advisers and research workers to develop new products.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Horticulture Production Supervisors work in food production or in ornamental plant production, including ornamental plant nurseries, fruit and vegetable production farms, cut flower grower farms, or other sites that produce plants.

Ornamental plants can be produced to end up in your local park or the shelves of garden centres. The trees, shrubs and flowers we all enjoy looking at are grown at ornamental plant nurseries but can’t be eaten.

Fruit and vegetable production for apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, mushrooms, watercress takes place in fruit and vegetable nurseries and farms.

Both areas of production may include either field production or protected production in glasshouses or plastic tunnels.

The technology involved in growing ornamental and edible plants, plus the job opportunities from management to marketing make working on an ornamental or fruit or veg nursery a rewarding career. 

Horticultural Production Supervisors can be involved in:

• Ensuring plants are grown correctly, including seed sowing and cultivation
• Ensuring plants are nurtured by watering, weeding, pruning, and nutrients
• Identifying and dealing with pests and diseases
• Identifying produce to be picked and packaged
• Ensuring temperature, light and humidity in glasshouses are right
• Supervising workers to produce, pick and pack the final product.

They can specialise within a specific technical area such as irrigation, soil or propagation and become a technician in that area. 

Many of these specialist areas can be taught on the job at farm or production nurseries, or as part of a wide range of horticultural courses, including degrees, diplomas and distance learning.

Working Conditions 

The hours vary depending on the type of farm or production nursery and on the season. In large farms or production nurseries staff may work a standard full-time week. In many businesses early starts are common in the summer months.

In both types of production, weekend work, late evenings and overtime are common. Part-time and casual jobs are available.

The work is rewarding and can be physically demanding.

Next steps

There are a variety of opportunities within the industry and an increasing demand for experienced workers.

If you supervise a team of Horticultural Production Workers you could progress to a management position such as Quality Assurance Manager or Nursery Manager.

If you specialise in a particular area such as soil, nutrient, propagation you could progress into Propagation Scientist, Seed Scientist, Plant Pathologist or Agronomist.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Horticultural Production Managers raise crops, plan strategies for maximum yield and sustainability, organise farm or nursery administration, work machinery, organise associated businesses and manage staff.

They need to have technical and practical competence coupled with the ability to make sound business decisions.

Ornamental plants can be produced to end up in your local park or the shelves of garden centres. The trees, shrubs and flowers we all enjoy looking at are grown at ornamental plant nurseries but can’t be eaten.

Fruit and vegetable production for apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, mushrooms, watercress takes place in fruit and vegetable nurseries and farms.

Both areas of production may include either field production or protected production in glasshouses or plastic tunnels.

The technology involved in growing ornamental and edible plants, plus the job opportunities from management to marketing make working on an ornamental or fruit or veg nursery a rewarding career. 

Working Conditions 

Horticultural Production Managers often work longer than the conventional working week. The nature of the job means that they may be on call day and night.

There are often no set hours and certain times of the year are particularly busy. Early morning starts are typical. The hours worked are determined by the season, so at harvest time, days can be longer.

Practical work on the farm or nursery is usually outdoors, in all weather conditions. Horticultural Production Managers also spend time in an office dealing with paperwork. On a smaller site the manager will get involved in more of the production tasks.

Next steps

From large glasshouses to very large sites specialising in field-grown vegetables, fruit growing or shrub growing, there are many opportunities to progress within this industry.

This could be working on multiple sites, in regional management, or even as consultants or civil servants making policy with Government bodies.

There are opportunities outside growing too, as supermarkets need require field officers to manage the need for a daily supply of fresh produce.

Suppliers, who provide everything from packaging to chemicals, need specialist advisers and research workers to develop new products.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society

Grave diggers are general ground maintenance workers who tend graves and memorial sites at cemeteries and crematoria.

As well as general ground maintenance grave diggers will also:
•    Measure and mark out grave spaces
•    Use a mechanical excavator and hand tools to dig graves
•    Work with other funeral and cemetery staff, including crematorium technicians, cemetery inspectors and superintendents, council officials and general gardening staff.

Working Conditions

Grave Diggers usually work 9-5, Monday to Friday, but may also be needed at weekends.

They work mainly outdoors, often in all kinds of weather. It can be physically demanding, and involve lots of climbing and bending.

Next steps

The number of people employed in cemeteries is greater than at crematoria. Although there is little scope for promotion within practical cemetery work itself, cemetery workers or gravediggers who do some clerical work and undertake training, can progress into cemetery administration positions. 

Cemetery workers who get involved in cemetery maintenance could also move into gardening and ground maintenance positions.

Useful links

British Association of Landscape Industries

British International Golf Greenkeepers Association

Greenkeepers Training Committee

Horticulture Jobs

Horticultural Trades Association

Institute of Groundsmanship

Institute of Horticulture

My world of work

Royal Horticultural Society