Apprentice Gardener

The Edzell Castle monument conservation unit consists of one full time Gardener who is responsible for the upkeep of the walled garden and the grounds around the Castle. The Gardener is managed by the Works Manager at Arbroath Abbey where there are three Stonemasons and one Gardener. You may be asked to work at both Edzell Castle and Arbroath Abbey from time to time. As part of your apprenticeship, you will be expected to spend time away from your normal place of work or on college placements and through relevant work placements across Scotland - please note that work placements may mean spending time away from home.
You will undergo a four-year apprenticeship and attend Dundee and Angus College once a week at Kingsway Campus, Old Glamis Road, Dundee, DD3 8LE at where you will learn all aspects of horticulture and grounds maintenance within a historic landscape.

• Attend college and gain Horticulture SVQ at SCQF Level 5.


• Assist the Gardeners and learn about the maintenance of the formal garden at Edzell Castle. This will include weeding, planting, mulching and the propagation of plants utilising the onsite greenhouse.


• You will be expected to study the various plants that are grown and recognise them to have the ability to pass on the information to anyone who enquires.


• Assist in the maintenance of the fine lawns, undertaking mowing, scarifying, aerating, application of herbicides and fertilisers.


• Use and maintain tools, equipment and machinery such as petrol driven ride-on mowers, pedestrian mowers, strimmer's and hedge cutters.