Work With Us
A Small Team with a Big Passion for Plants
Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants was established in 1988 by Rob and Rosy Hardy. For more than three decades, we have built a reputation for quality herbaceous perennials and are proud of our success at some of the country's most prestigious flower shows, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Today we grow approximately 1,200 different cultivars and varieties (not all of which appear on our website) from our nursery in rural Hampshire.
What We Do
We are a genuine family business and a small, close-knit team. Our work spans everything from growing and propagating plants to connecting with gardeners across the country. We sell direct from the nursery gate, exhibit at flower shows and plant fairs, offer a mail-order service, and run a programme of talks and workshops throughout the year.
Join Our Team
We don't recruit often, but when we do we look for people who share our love of plants and our commitment to quality. We'll advertise any vacancies here as and when they arise.
If there are no vacancies displayed below, please check back, or follow us on social media to be the first to hear about any new opportunities.
Current Vacancies
Role description
Job Title: Mail Order Team Member
Hours: Minimum of 24 hours per week, Monday – Thursday, with a requirement to work additional hours during busy periods.
We now need to recruit a person to assist our Mail Order Team.
This is a physically demanding role which involves gathering plant material, preparing plants, packing plants into boxes and loading them onto trollies.
Our ideal candidate will be dependable, methodical in their approach to the task and able to work to a daily deadline.
They will be responsible for ensuring that all mail order consignments are accurate in terms of plant materials and customer details prior to despatch, therefore an eye for detailand a conscientious attitude are essential.
In the absence of mail order team members you will be required to complete some administrative tasks including: using bespoke software; producing consignment documentation via our courier’s portal. Dealing with mail order queries via the web, email and telephone orders.
As we’re a small team, you will be expected to support other teams with other tasks on the Nursery such as potting, laying out of plants or in our nursery shop.
No previous plant knowledge is required for this position, although it is highly desirable, and training will be given in all aspects of this role.
Start and finish times can be flexed to support those with children at school or other similar commitments.
Key duties
- Check orders paperwork
- Check plants against invoice paperwork and original orders
- Packing plants into the boxes with required packaging material to high standard to withstand courier treatment
- Correctly addressing boxes and adding information as required
- Adding consignment paperwork
- To keep the packing area and shed clean and tidy
- Gathering plants for orders
- Preparing plants for orders to a high standard
- To perform other duties as may be required, supporting other teams on the nursery with potting, laying out of plants or in our nursery shop.
* In addition, in the absence of other team members, you will be required to perform some administrative tasks, for which in house training will be provided, including:
- Using bespoke software to process orders and print invoices
- Preparing consignment documentation via our courier’s website.
- Taking and responding to web, telephone and email orders and queries
Person specification:
Key: E = Essential D = Desirable
Experience
Working in a garden nursery or packaging environment: D
Comfortable working outdoors in all weathers and in all seasons: E
Skills and attributes
Physically fit able to lift, carry, walk and stand for long periods of time (up to 8 hours per day): E
Literacy: good standard of literacy, able to interpret and implement written
instructions, to read labels, to check and confirm customer details and plant materials: E
Numeracy: good standard of numeracy, able to count and calculate accurately: E
IT skills: Experience of using computers and software including email and the internet E
Has used courier portal software: D
Customer service: Experience of supporting customers by email and telephone: D
Team work: able to work in a small team, building positive relationships: E
Flexible: supports other functions, teams and team members when needed, is able
to work more than 24 hours per week if required: E
Communication: good listening skills able to implement verbal instructions,
able to clarify and confirm written instructions and requirements: E
Good eye for detail: ensuring orders and packaging accurately reflects customers details and requests E
Speed: able to work at a good pace to ensure plants are packed before the courier arrives: E
Self-reliant: able to work unsupervised: E
Reliable: does what they say they will, attends on days and times as agreed: E
Health and safety: to work in a healthy and safe manner, complying with risk assessments and instructions. Keeping all workspaces clean and tidy: E
Equality and diversity: to behave in a non-discriminatory manner, to treat everyone fairly, with dignity and respect: E
Dog friendly: E
Knowledge:
Plant knowledge: able to identify different plants: D
Plant knowledge: able to identify pests and diseases: D
Qualifications:
GCSE English, Maths, Science or equivalent qualifications or demonstrable competence: D
Driving licence: D
How to apply and closing date
Please email a CV and covering letter detailing how you meet the person specification to E: info@hardysplants.co.uk
Closing date: Noon: 25 September 2026
We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the deadline due to the volume of applications.
For an informal discussion telephone Cleon on 01256 896533 (9am - 12pm Monday - Friday)