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Head of Greens

UK department head for living and artificial plant dressing: owns greens look, budget, crew and nursery/hire logistics under the Production Designer / Set Decorator relationship. Also credited as HOD Greens or Head Greensperson on some shows.

Duties

• Breakdown script/art packs for all living and artificial greens
• Budget hire, purchase, grow and build with Set Decorator / Buyer
• Select crew; schedule dressing, nursery and on-set cover
• Approve species, scale and seasonality with PD / Art Directors
• Own H&S for treatments (including flame retardant), machinery and yard
• Liaise Art, Construction, Locations and Props on installs and strikes
• Ensure standby greens continuity through the schedule
• Return hires and strike nursery stock at wrap

Reports to

Production Designer / Set Decorator (show-dependent); production on deal

Works with

Greens Chargehand, On-Set Greens, Assistants, Plant Buyer, Set Decorator, Art Directors, Construction, Locations, Props

Career path

Greens Chargehand / Senior Greensperson → Assistant Head of Greens → Head of Greens

Day to day

Run the greens day: brief Chargehand and on-set; chase nursery deliveries; approve hero planting with PD/Set Dec; unblock watering and FR treatments; cover critical installs; close returns.

Call times

Dressing greens often pre-call for plant dress and watering; on-set / standby greens match unit call and wrap with camera. Nursery and load days before first shoot can start early — check dressing vs standby call.

What to wear

Workshop/nursery: boots, gloves, weather gear, hi-vis if yard rules require; dust mask when cutting dry foliage. On set: matte blacks or greens-appropriate darks; radio pouch; gloves; PPE as briefed for installs and flame-retardant treatments. Smart-casual for art/production meetings.

Tools & kit

Laptop; radio on set days; personal PPE; oversight of nursery plant, water bowsers, chainsaws/chippers and hire plant as required. Production/hire supplies large stock.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap, kit/vehicle fee and nursery location on the deal memo. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk / Art Department cards and your production. On smaller shows Greens may sit under Art or Props; larger features often list Greens as its own department.

Software

• Excel / Google Sheets plant lists, schedules and budgets
• PDF art packs / Bluebeam drawings
• PureRef / Milanote moodboards and botanical refs
• Shared call sheets (StudioBinder / Yamdu / PDF)
• WhatsApp / radio for on-set greens notes
• ChatGPT for species/season research drafts (HOD verify flame-retardant, invasive species and H&S)

Related roles

Greens Chargehand, On-Set Greens, Plant Buyer, Set Decorator

More Greens roles