Meet Dave Jenkins – Team Leader, Parks, Aldenham Parish Council, Herts
How did you get into parks?
I initially liked gardening and wanted to work outdoors so I applied for a job at my local Council.
How long have you worked in parks and tell us a bit about your career here?
I have now worked with Plants, Parks and Open Spaces for 42 years now, I started with Watford Borough Council in 1978 as a Grade D Gardner /Groundsman, had to go through the grades of E,F,F+ Chargehand, attending Oaklands College to gain my City & Guilds in Horticulture and Greenkeeping and Turf Management. At the time there was a lot of old Foreman in charge and promotion was not available.
In 1985 I moved to Harrow Borough Council to join their Parks section with the fancy title of Working Foreman Gardner (G+) I manage the largest park in Harrow Headstone Manor, it was a lovely Park with a 16th Century Tithe Barn with a Manor House with a moat around it. Our first job in the morning was to feed the Ducks.
Then in 1992 I went back to work for Watford Borough Council this time as as Area Parks Supervisor and went through numerous restructures eventually managing 50% of all the Parks and Open Spaces, as the Area North Development Parks Manager. I took redundancy in 2013 when our Parks Services were out sourced. Then I went to work for a local Garden Nursery for 5 years.
I missed working in Parks so in 2019 applied for a job for Aldenham Parish Council.
My career as gone full circle and back on the tools enjoying every day now got another fancy title of Team Leader, we are blessed with great Parks and Open Spaces.
Greatest achievement and challenge in parks?
Back in 1987 Groundsman of the year competition with the Institute of Groundmanship made as an area semi-finalist there were over 3,000 entries.
Also in 2007 was the Parks Project Officer to get Cassiobury Park it’s first Green Flag.
Always trying to keep Parks and Open Spaces well maintained , interesting to visit and to keep the Community happy.
If you had a money tree in your local park, what would you spend the fruits of the tree on?
Create more wildlife flower meadows ,encourage more local school children to visit, plant more trees and continue a Path link up around the Park for all year round conditions.
What do you do outside of work?
I support my local football team Watford and follow Manchester United.Walk my Cocker Spaniel Bella with walks with my wife Debbie to local Parks and Chiltern Hills areas. Re designing my garden at the moment we have a Tea room in the summerhouse and planting more perennials. Its been a good year in the greenhouse for tomato’s and cucumbers, and got grapes growing around the gazebo ,runner beans have been delightful.
Any advice for anyone considering a career in parks?
Go for it ,it’s great to contribute to your local Parks and Open Spaces. Our Parks and Open Spaces are vital for our well being, Planting trees ,shrubs and bulbs for future generations is extremely satisfying.
Favourite park and why?
Where I work Phillimore Recreation Ground Radlett, it’s quirky it’s has one of the largest play grounds in the country with a large grass area and mature trees, great for hot sunny days.We have recently made several improvements .
We gained a Green Flag award in 2021 and continue win for the fourth successive year. Also a Cafe/Tea room which will ecologically friendly ,with use of sustainable construction materials, solar panels to help reduce energy costs is being built.
We will be carrying out the landscaping and will be opened late October this year.
The Parks and Open Spaces Team are based here to continue to make it a safe pleasant place to visit.
