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Gerdener

Employer
National Trust
Location
Fountains Abbey, Fountains, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3DY
Salary
£19928 + range of excellent benefits
Closing date
21 May 2019

Job Details

If you want a career in Gardening, we can offer you some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the UK to work in as well as one of the largest plant collections in Europe.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of outstanding international importance. Visitors have been drawn to this special place for hundreds of years, and the abbey ruins are one of the most iconic views in the North of England. But that's only one part of the story. The breath-taking water garden of Studley Royal is at the heart of the World Heritage Site, and it's a key focus for the team to raise its profile to be equal to that of the abbey.

Visitor experience is at the heart of what we do, and the team are rightly proud of their visitor enjoyment ratings. There is a busy annual programme of conservation and restoration work across the 800 acre site, and there are ambitious plans to develop the infrastructure at this popular property, which attracts over 600,000 visitors a year. This is a great place to work and an exciting time to join the friendly 75-member team and over 400 volunteers, who are looking for engaging customer-focused people who will bring energy and ideas to this vibrant property

What you'll be doing

As a hands-on Gardener, you’ll assist in making sure that the gardens are maintained to a high standard. You’ll be passionate and enthused and knowledgeable about the varied plants within the garden. This role will include a range of practical horticultural tasks to develop, enhance and conserve the garden and contribute to the delivery of projects. You'll be helping with hard and soft landscaping and general maintenance of the garden, such as mulching, pruning, leaf clearing and weeding. You’ll support with the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants. You’ll be helping to cut the hedges and mow our fine lawns. You’ll also take ownership of specific areas of the garden ensuring the highest standards are maintained and healthy plants are available for our visitors to enjoy.

You’ll also support garden volunteers and help them to make the most of their time here. You’ll be expected to interact with the public on a daily basis, answering the many questions, or help out with gardening workshops, tours and helping set up events when needed.

Who we're looking for

To be successful in this role you should be able to demonstrate the below:

  • Trained as a professional gardener/horticulturalist with a good level of practical experience.
  • RHS Level 2 or equivalent.
  • Have proven practical gardening/horticulture experience, as well as a strong knowledge of plants
  • Confidence to participate in garden activities and events
  • Competence with machinery/equipment use and maintenance; including tractors, chainsaws, and pedestrian mowers with accreditation as required for Health and Safety compliance.

Company

There's no other organisation like the National Trust. No other organisation that brings such an amazing variety of places and spaces to life.

We are a charity founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, three people who saw the importance of our nation’s heritage and open spaces, and wanted to protect them for everyone to enjoy. More than a century after we were founded, our values are still at the heart of everything we do. And we do a lot more than you might think. 

We welcome some 22.5 million visitors, from all ages and backgrounds, every year. We care for historic houses, gardens, mills, forests, castles, miles of coastline, islands, holiday cottages, pubs and inns, whole villages and even a goldmine. We also run a huge retail chain, a multi-million pound food and beverage business and much, much more. And we do all of this so that everyone can enjoy and make the most of the green spaces and beautiful places that England, Wales and Northern Ireland has to offer. 

The National Trust is described by its employee gardeners as “dynamic, supportive, inquisitive and fun”, where its beautiful places “lift your spirits naturally” and “somewhere you can expand new skills”. The organisation is currently recruiting for a number of gardening roles. 

Read more in our latest articles:

What makes the National Trust a special place to work?

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