Apprentice Soft Landscaper

Summary

Apprentice Soft Landscaper required for a small, niche company specialising in planting design, replanting, and enhancing private landscapes for climate resilience and maximum biodiversity. You'll gain hands-on experience in innovative landscape maintenance techniques while working on unique, eco-friendly projects.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 4.00pm (Saturday work available) Part time hours available as well as full time

40 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 7 May 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

A small, dynamic and knowledgeable team environment.
Working in an array of high-end private gardens with a range of styles focusing on a range of maintenance tasking including hedge cutting, mowing (ride on included)
Full PPE and uniform provided
Felco secateurs and holster provided.
Bed and border care including pruning
Planting, and irrigation
8 hour day with 2/3 breaks around 30 mins long

Where you’ll work

Cottes Hill Farm
Station Road, Haddenham
Aylesbury
HP17 8DD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

Your training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
(Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
(Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
(Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
(Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
(Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
(Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
(Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
(Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
(Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
(Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
(Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
(Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
(Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
(Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.

Your training plan

Weekly day release into Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA)
Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship Standard
Level 2 maths & English Functional Skills if required (as part of your day release into college)
Level 3 First Aid at Work
An assessor will visit you at your employer every 8-10 weeks

Requirements

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness
Plant knowledge

Other requirements

Good work ethic and general work fitness is an advantage. Being able to drive is a bonus. The Ability to get to Haddenham HP17 8DD for 7.30am will be essential. Experience with maintenance equipment is a bonus (Hedge cutters, mowers, strimmer etc) Plant knowledge is also an advantage

About this company

Two Oaks landscapes ltd started in 2017 by George Butler who trained at Writtle college and then furthered his experience abroad in Australia and New Zealand for 3 years before returning and starting the company focusing on high end maintenance with particular attention to planting landscapes that are climate resilient and biodiverse rich. Two Oaks landscapes has adapted to customer requirements and trends to heavily reduce pesticide use, using quieter, battery powered machinery and eradicating peat usage, while helping customers reduce their water usage by implementing irrigation systems to water less and more efficiently. The future of the company is still very passionate about climate resilient planting, given the extremes of weather over the last few years, learning and using water more efficiently, maintaining these landscapes to the highest possible standards.

http://www.twooakslandscapes.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Full term employment
Continuing study programmes possible
Irrigation training possible
Spraying course possible

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

TWO OAKS LANDSCAPES LIMITED

George Butler

george@twooakslandscapes.co.uk

07475752950

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000308669.

Apply now

Closes in 6 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

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