Wormsley

Skilled Gardener Opportunity

wormsley — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:21:51 +0000

We have an exciting opportunity for the role of a Skilled Gardener to join our expanding Gardens team due to a growing events business and the need to provide care for an increasing number of gardens across the Estate. The gardens are being updated whilst remaining true to the original design briefs from the Family and the beautiful two acre Walled Garden is a showcase of the Estate offering a limited number of garden tours, high-end events, and open days when cricket and opera guests come to explore the garden.

To help our team with this, we are looking for a keen horticulturalist with design experience, plant knowledge and floristry skills; excellent practical knowledge, and relevant qualifications, as well as being a true team player to join us.!

If you are interested in finding out more about this role and would like to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to info@wormsley.com.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 30th October 2023.

Title: Skilled Gardener

Location: The Wormsley Estate, Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire

Reporting to: Head Gardener

WORMSLEY ESTATE
Wormsley is the private estate of the Getty Family and is located just off junction 5 of the M40 at Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire. The Estate can trace its roots back to a first mention in the Doomsday Book of 1196 and since 1597 has been in the possession of only two families. Sir Paul Getty acquired the Estate in 1985 and embarked on a seven-year programme of renovation and improvements bringing it back to life. This included the refurbishment of most of its properties creating some wonderful Chiltern barn conversions alongside major projects such as establishing the Lake and Island in the Deer Park, the laying of the now world-famous Cricket Ground, the building of the Getty Library (with over 6,000 rare books and manuscripts) and working with Penelope Hobhouse to re-establish the two-acre Walled Garden. Since Sir Paul’s death in 2003, a further broadening of the Estate’s activities has included the expansion of the Wormsley Shoot, the creation of the Robin Snell designed 600-seat Opera Pavilion (home of Garsington Opera) and Island Pavilion and the Boundary Room which overlooks the Cricket Ground. See www.wormsley.com for more information.

GARDENS TEAM
The gardens team is expanding due to a growing events business and the need to provide care for an increasing number of gardens across the Estate. The gardens are being updated whilst remaining true to the original design briefs from the Family and the beautiful two acre Walled Garden is a showcase of the Estate offering a limited number of garden tours, high-end events and open days when cricket and opera guests come to explore the garden. The team grows vegetables, plants and cut flowers for the Family, our staff and tenants, and our expanding events business, as well as managing a further tenacres of formal gardens, follies, orchards and managed woodland.

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic plants person to join a permanent team of four gardeners and the Head Gardener who are supported by a small team of freelance gardeners, volunteers and students. A keen horticulturist with design experience, plant knowledge and floristry you should possess excellent practical knowledge and relevant qualifications and be a true team player.

SPECIFIC DUTIES
Tasks will vary on a daily basis and will include:

Reporting to the head Gardener and deputy head as required.
Ensuring the grounds and gardens are beautifully presented at all times.
Working with the team on designs and development plans for the gardens.
Production of herbaceous perennial gardens.
Undertaking garden tours and giving public talks.
Managing volunteers and students.
Ensuring all aspects of safe working practice and health and safety legislation are adhered to.
Exceptional plant knowledge with artistic flare
Floristry skills are a bonus
Keen to work on our high end event productions
Keen to entertain and tour garden guests around the walled garden.

SKILLS REQUIRED
The successful candidate will:

Have a real passion for plants, gardens, gardening and design.
Be hardworking, flexible, energetic, conscientious and trustworthy.
Have practical, hands-on garden experience and be prepared to get his or her hands dirty.
Possess great plant knowledge and a keen interest in horticultural trends, plus a good knowledge of floristry and the growing of cut flowers.
Have formal horticultural training and experience working on private estates, with good machinery knowledge and glasshouse and protected environment skills.
Be able to take direction but also to take the lead, be self-motivated when working individually and keen to encourage others when working as part of a team.
Have excellent communication and organisation skills and be happy to liaise with the Family.
Have a sound knowledge of health and safety and safe working practices.
Possess a keen eye for detail.
Have a clean driving licence and access to a car as public transport is limited.
PA1/PA6 spray certificates advantageous but not essential.

The post Skilled Gardener Opportunity appeared first on Wormsley.

Save the Date: NCCA One Day Trophy Finals 27th August 2023 at Wormsley

wormsley — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:51:54 +0000

Come and join the NCCA for a wonderful ‘cricket experience’ at Wormsley, renowned as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world; where two teams will play it out for their chance to be crowned 50-Over National Trophy Champions across the National Counties”.

Men’s XIs will play it out for their chance to be crowned ’50-Over Trophy Champions’ across the National Counties.

A day for the whole family to enjoy with children’s activities, competitions and prizes. Full hospitality is available for those wishing to immerse themselves in the entire cricket experience. There will also be a variety of refreshments available around the Wormsley cricket ground, or visitors can picnic on the perimeter overlooking the picture-perfect ground.

There is an early bird discount for tickets purchased in advance of the day. Adult tickets bought in advance cost £10 and will be £12.50 on the day. Children go Free.”

Buy tickets now

The post Save the Date: NCCA One Day Trophy Finals 27th August 2023 at Wormsley appeared first on Wormsley.

14th June: Wormsley Open Gardens

wormsley — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:17:00 +0000

This a rare chance to visit The Walled Garden at Wormsley, with tickets available to all. Tickets must be booked in advance.

Book Tickets Here

The Walled Garden dates from the mid-1700s and was originally designed for the former owners of Wormsley, the Fane family, by Richard Woods, a contemporary of the famous Capability Brown. The garden was positioned a mile from the main house to take advantage of the two underground springs and the better source of natural light than surrounds Wormsley House. A carriageway from the house to the garden was planned but never materialised.

For many years the garden was neglected until Sir Paul Getty purchased the Estate in the mid-1980s and in time made the garden a priority project.

In 1991 the garden was redesigned. The wall itself was the only existing feature so the whole plot had to be excavated and remodelled. During the many years of neglect, the garden had succumbed to ash, sycamore, docks, thistles, bindweed and ground elder.

Over the years since the redesign, the layout of the garden has remained substantially the same, although we have just completed a project to re-site the pergola in the vegetable garden so that it sits symmetrically on the axis of the garden. Over the last few years, the garden has enjoyed many events, parties, opera visits and weddings.

The post 14th June: Wormsley Open Gardens appeared first on Wormsley.

Book Release: When the Kite builds… WHY and HOW we restored Red Kites across Britain

wormsley — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:20:01 +0000

Wormsley is very pleased to host a book launch for Dr Mike Pienkowski of his publication ‘When the Kite Builds – How and Why we restored red kites across Britain’. He has invited a small group of press and interested parties on Thursday, 16th of March, for the launch, followed by lunch.

The Red Kite is a native species that had been eradicated from England over the centuries and in August 1989, five kites were released onto Wormsley – this was the first release in England and was kept secret for some time. The book tells this story and how the birds have thrived and spread.

About the Book

In 2020, looking back over more than 30 years of the project, RSPB described the Red Kite project as “the biggest species success story in UK conservation history!”, noting also: “The Red Kite introduction project has been a fantastic example of conservation in actionand is the result of really effective partnership working, which we’re proud to be part of. It’s been amazing

to see a species once persecuted to near extinction
in this country, brought back and welcomed by local communities, with local economies reaping the dividends of the return of this iconic species. In the 1980s, anyone wanting to see a Red Kite had to make a special pilgrimage to a handful of sites. Today it is a daily sight for millions of people. In a few short decades we have taken a species from the brink of extinction, to the UK being home to almost 10% of the entire world population.”

English Nature’s Chairman, Tony Juniper, said “Thanks to this pioneering reintroduction programme in the Chilterns, increased legal protection and collaboration amongst partners, the Red Kite stands out as a true conservation success story. The flagship Red Kite reintroduction project paved the way for further species re-introductions, helping to reverse the historic deterioration of our natural environment and our precious species that inhabit it.”

JNCC, said: “Thirty years ago the reintroduction of a lost species was a radical act. Thanks to pioneering projects like the Chiltern Red Kites, it is now a standard tool in the nature conservation toolkit.” But the project’s success was a close-run thing.

In the Middle Ages, Red Kites were common sights across the British countryside and cities, where they kept the streets clear of carrion – and were frequently mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. Later changes in attitude led to their extermination in England, Scotland and Ireland and reduced to a tiny population in Wales. They were one of only three globally vulnerable bird species occurring in Britain.

Order Online

This book:

Is by the Chairman of the experimental project to reintroduce kites to England and Scotland.
Describes why the decision was taken and how it was implemented, with international help.
Examines the success of the experiment, despite many challenges, leading to expansion.
Follows the spread across Britain and to Ireland.
Explores the outcomes, not just for Red Kites, but the example for other species, the fight against illegal persecution and on public attitudes.

Foreword by Rt Hon. the Lord Randall of Uxbridge PC (preview)

Review

A conservation success story – perhaps like no other in the UK. And this book is an insider’s account of that success story. The author sets himself the task of writing an accurate and readable account of two decades of work and he succeeds.

– Mark Avery

Read the full review

This book will, I am sure, inspire a new generation.

– Barry Larking (ECOS, the journal of the British Association of Nature Conservationists)

Read the full review

If you are interested in conservation and reintroduction, this book provides a much wider knowledge base than just Red Kites, and is a great in-practice example of how these projects work, and the dedication required to pull them off. When the Kite Builds provides such a wide breadth of knowledge and history that I truly don’t see how this book wouldn’t be enjoyed by any reader.

– Antonia Devereux (WILD Magazine – Students for sustainability)

Read the full review

The post Book Release: When the Kite builds… WHY and HOW we restored Red Kites across Britain appeared first on Wormsley.

Cricket Blog Test

wormsley — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 13:15:00 +0000

The post Cricket Blog Test appeared first on Wormsley.

Oxfordshire Cricket and Wormsley Estate Partnership Announcement

wormsley — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 13:08:28 +0000

Oxfordshire Cricket and Wormsley Cricket are delighted to announce the formation of a strategic partnership that will see Oxfordshire play eight days of cricket at the iconic Wormsley ground this summer.

This partnership supports a wide spectrum of Oxfordshire Cricket, from Schools games to the Elite teams for both Men’s and Women’s Cricket, including two NCCA T20 matches, a Women’s showcase day, a schools finals day, a community day, a corporate six-a-side day, the traditional Awards and T20 Finals day, and our showcase game against our partners, Sussex CCC, as follows:

Sunday 24th April – NCCA T20 – Oxfordshire v Wales
Monday 2nd May – NCCA T20 – Oxfordshire v Bedfordshire
Thursday 16th June – Wormsley Oxfordshire Sixes
Tuesday 28th June – Schools Finals Day
Sunday 31st July – NCCA Showcase Day – Oxfordshire v Sussex CCC
Thursday 11th August – Community Day (in conjunction with the Lord’s Taverners)
Tuesday 16th August – Women’s Showcase Day
Saturday 17th September – Awards and T20 Finals Day

NCCA T20 Days

The NCCA T20 days will see the return of the NCCA T20 competition with the County Men playing early-season fixtures against Wales and Bedfordshire.

Wormsley Oxfordshire Sixes

The Wormsley Oxfordshire Sixes day will welcome Corporate teams as they battle it out in a hard-fought, fun six-a-side tournament – definitely, a day to remember for those lucky enough to enter. More details will be announced in due course.

Schools Finals Day

The Schools Finals Day, in partnership with the Oxfordshire Schools Cricket Association, will see a day of action-packed cricket, showcasing the U12 and U13 (State Schools only) finals. Offering these junior cricketers, the opportunity to play on a ground that has featured the best players in the world over the last 30 years.

NCCA Showcase Day

The NCCA showcase day will see our County Men take on our first-class partners, Sussex CCC, with their host of stars.

Community Day

The Community Day will see the Oxfordshire Bulls U11s (State School children in our Pathway) play against THE ACE PROGRAMME CHARITY in the morning. The Oxfordshire Bulls programme aims to bridge the gap between Independent and State Schools, by providing targeted support for State School Boys Pathway players who may not receive the same level of support as their peers within the Independent sector. THE ACE PROGRAMME CHARITY seeks to engage and support young people of African and Caribbean Heritage, and to identify diverse talent from the grassroots to the elite. This session will be followed by participants from our Disability hubs taking part in ‘skills and drills’, run by our Head of Disability Cricket – Richard Giles, with support from the recently qualified George Hilley and Damon Colley. In the afternoon, all of these players will be able to enjoy the Lord’s Taverners taking on the House of Commons and Lords XI, in a match that will include a number of well-known personalities, MPs and former cricketers.

Women and Girls Showcase Day

The Women and Girls Showcase Day will see a day of action-packed matches taking place. The morning will comprise the Girls U13 and U15 Club finals, which will be followed by our County Women against the Army Ladies.

Awards and T20 Finals Day

Our annual Awards and T20 Finals Day will conclude our summer at Wormsley and will include the Hartwell T20 Final and the Wilf Bennett T20 Final. These games will be followed by our season-ending Awards night in the Boundary Room overlooking the Wormsley ground, where we will celebrate our Grassroots and Pathway Cricketers and the volunteers who bring Oxfordshire Cricket to life.

Commenting on the announcement of the partnership, Chris Clements, Chairman at Oxfordshire Cricket said:

“Over the last [5] years, we have enjoyed the opportunity of holding our Club Finals day and Youth Pathway Awards at the iconic Wormsley ground. Over that time, we have developed strong links with the team at Wormsley and share a common aim to promote a wide spectrum of Cricket. We are delighted that we now have the opportunity through this wider partnership to host more cricket at what is widely recognised as “one of the most beautiful grounds in the world”. We have a strong focus on community outreach and maximising the levelling up of opportunities for all cricketers in Oxfordshire and we are delighted that Wormsley Cricket is providing us with the perfect platform to achieve this. Oxfordshire Cricket would like to record its thanks to the Beard Charitable Foundation and Hartwell Plc for their support of this partnership with Wormsley.

Commenting on the announcement of the partnership, Alistair Cane, Head of Cricket Development at Wormsley said:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with, and to support, Oxfordshire Cricket. In this our 30th year of cricket at Wormsley, we are as much focused on the future as we are on remembering the past. Sir Paul Getty believed that Cricket was for everyone, not just the elite players. Wormsley Cricket is focused not only on protecting Sir Paul’s legacy to the game but guided by our fundamental principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, we are delighted to support leading Cricket organisations and charities to help young and disadvantaged players to find their way in life and the game in particular. Combined with the fact that Wormsley has established a worldwide reputation as “one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world”, it makes for the perfect venue for showcase matches and events. The best way to watch cricket at Wormsley this season is through our Membership programme, that allows our most loyal friends to enjoy a wide variety of cricket, including access to private games, Charity matches, Oxfordshire Cricket days and ticketed days such as the National Counties Finals.

Click below for more info about the Wormsley Cricket Membership, including how to apply.

Wormsley Cricket Membership

The post Oxfordshire Cricket and Wormsley Estate Partnership Announcement appeared first on Wormsley.

Wormsley Preferred Partners: Lush by Tom Kerridge

wormsley — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 12:52:56 +0000

We’re delighted that Lush by Tom Kerridge is now one of Wormsley’s Preferred Partner Providers. Lush re-creates the sublime Marlow ‘Hand & Flowers’ two Michelin star experience at events: real food with bold flavours wrapped up in the warmest of hospitality.

For us here at Wormsley, it is important to be able to work closely with local experts and professionals as part of our drive to become even more sustainable.

Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing you to our portfolio of carefully selected Preferred Partner Providers, all of whom deliver exemplary service to enhance the exceptional events hosted at Wormsley.

Welcome to Wormsley Lush by Tom Kerridge!

Visit Lush by Tom Kerridge

The post Wormsley Preferred Partners: Lush by Tom Kerridge appeared first on Wormsley.

Wormsley Cricket Women’s Week

wormsley — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:29:02 +0000

On International Women’s Day we are delighted to announce that Wormsley Cricket will be hosting a week celebrating women in cricket from the 16th to the 21st of August 2022.

The aim of this inaugural ‘Wormsley Women in Cricket Festival’ is to inspire women and girls to both play and explore a new pathway to professional attainment within the sport as players, coaches and officials through a mixture of hard and soft ball events, coaching and training sessions, and showcase fixtures. It is also an opportunity for players to experience the exceptional Wormsley cricket ground as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations.

The week begins with an Oxfordshire CCC Women’s Showcase day on Tuesday 16th August.

On Wednesday 17th August we will host a free ECB Support Coach course designed to give female participants the knowledge, skills and confidence to support qualified coaches and enhance player experience for Girls’ and Women’s Cricket.

Alongside this we will be running a Dynamos coaching morning, which will provide a fantastic next step for all those graduating from All Stars Cricket and the perfect introduction for all 8-11 year olds new to the sport. During the afternoon we will host a Women’s showcase game and the day will close with a fun soft ball festival as an introduction to cricket, for women who may be looking for a new way to improve their fitness and learn a new skill.

Tuesday 18th August is dedicated to the Under 18s girls’ clubs with a special T20 Festival, whilst on Friday 19th August the Sir Paul Getty Women’s XI host UKAFACA Women.

On Saturday 20th August the Sir Paul Getty Women’s XI will play a showcase game against the FairBreak International XI. This game will be the third time this world-famous side, made up of leading female cricketers from around the cricketing world, will have played at Wormsley.

The week concludes on Sunday 21st August with a further fixture for the FairBreak XI against an international opposition.

The week-long celebration of women in cricket is being organised by Wormsley, Helen Pack, Chair of Women’s Cricket at Wormsley, and Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Cricket Boards.

In addition to a great week of sport, the event is attracting support and participation from mentors, coaches and speakers, all with the aim of inspiring women to #breakthebias. Spectators and supporters are welcome to come along and enjoy the ‘Wormsley Women in Cricket Festival’.

To sign up for the free ECB Support Coach Course at Wormsley on Wednesday on the 17th August, (from 10.30am to 1.30pm), please click the link below: https://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/d8qgpn

If you, your children or your Club would be interested in participating in the ‘Women in Cricket Festival’ please email us at cricket@wormsley.com and we’d be delighted to discuss the various options available to participate.

We look forward to welcoming you to Wormsley.

The post Wormsley Cricket Women’s Week appeared first on Wormsley.

Imagine yourself here: Experience The Island Pavilion

wormsley — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 11:11:01 +0000

The Island Pavilion is an extremely versatile entertainment space – perfect private dining for 30 guests, or equally suitable for hosting a range of activities from drinks receptions to seminars, press launches or private meetings. The Island Pavilion also has a Wedding Licence for a congregation of up to 40 people.

Home to some of the family’s sculpture collection, the award-winning Island Pavilion and footbridge was designed by architect Robin Snell and completed in June 2014. This wonderful cantilevered construction complements and reflects The Garsington Opera Pavilion; designed to be a sculptural contemporary building within the wider Deer Park landscape at the centre of Wormsley.

Available all year
75 standing / 50 audience / 32 dining
Meetings, Talks, Seminars
Conferences
Weddings, Celebrations
Events, Launches
Performances

Email us on enquiries@wormsley.com or call us on +44 1494 484 443

The post Imagine yourself here: Experience The Island Pavilion appeared first on Wormsley.

Cricket Fixtures: Sir Paul Getty XI 30th anniversary season

wormsley — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 15:54:16 +0000

We are delighted to announce our fixtures for the Sir Paul Getty Men’s and Women’s XIs, in this our 30^th anniversary year of cricket at Wormsley:

Sun 22nd May	SPG M XI v Eton Ramblers
Sun 5th June	SPG M XI v Sussex Martlets
Wed 6th July	SPG M XI v UKAFCA
Fri 22nd July	SPG M XI v MCC (President’s Day)
Sat 23rd July	SPG W XI v MCC Women
Wed 3rd August	SPG M XI v British Asians
Sun 14th August	SPG M XI v The Arabs
Fri 19th August	SPG W XI v UKAFCA Women
Sat 20th August	SPG W XI v FairBreak Global
Fri 16th September	SPG M XI v Club De Flamingo’s
Sun 18th September	SPG M XI v Hurlingham
Sun 25th September	SPG M XI v I Zingari

In perfect symmetry with the inaugural Sir Paul Getty XI game at Wormsley against the MCC in 1992, we are delighted to once again be hosting the world’s most famous cricket club for our President’s Day celebratory fixture on Friday 22^nd July.

We are also delighted to see The Arabs, Eton Ramblers and I Zingari back at Wormsley for these annual fixtures, again all sides that played at Wormsley in our first season. Sussex Martlets, UKAFCA, Club De Flamingo’s and Hurlingham are also old returning friends and we are delighted to be welcoming the British Asians this year – we very look forward to this game becoming part of our annual calendar.

The Sir Paul Getty Women’s XI will play three fixtures this season, against MCC, UKAFCA and concluding with a much-anticipated return fixture against the International FairBreak Global XI. The FairBreak series is nicely balanced at one game all, after hosting this invitational International side from Australia in our inaugural Women’s match in 2018 and their second visit in 2019!

The best way to enjoy these, and many other games (including the National Counties T20 Final and a host of Oxfordshire fixtures) at “one of the most beautiful grounds in the world”, is to become a Wormsley Cricket Member. Membership is a wonderful opportunity for cricket enthusiasts, families and friends to watch a high standard of cricket throughout the summer, at exceptional value. Individual Membership is £65/season or £115/season with a Guest, or Life Membership at £500 (individual) and £1,000 (joint).

Membership includes access to every Sir Paul Getty XI game and a range of Charity, Private and Representative Cricket.

Apply for Cricket Membership

Learn more about Wormsley Cricket

The post Cricket Fixtures: Sir Paul Getty XI 30th anniversary season appeared first on Wormsley.