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Assistant Gardener

Employer
National Trust
Location
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Salary
£13,593 per annum
Closing date
30 Jul 2019

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Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Part Time
Function
Gardening Jobs
Sector
Charity & Voluntary, Growing

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.

You’ll love working outdoors and understand that our gardens and grounds are as significant as our mansion houses and our historical places. Our visitors tell us how much they enjoy the peace and tranquillity of our well-kept outdoor spaces, which makes your role vital in making sure they have an amazing experience.

What it's like to work here

Hardwick Hall is one of the most impressive Elizabethan buildings in the country. Celebrated internationally, the committed team works hard to care for the property’s astonishing artefacts, including one of the finest collections of tapestries in Europe. A large-scale project will develop access across the estate, providing links with local trails and Stainsby Mill, one of our portfolio properties. This is a busy, forward-thinking property and the team is looking for engaging people who will enjoy this fast-paced environment.

What you'll be doing

You’ll assist in making sure that the gardens are maintained to a high standard and be passionate and enthused by plants. 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 assist garden volunteers and support 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.

As part of this role you’ll be required to work regular weekends as part of a garden-team rota.

Who we're looking for

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

  • Previous practical gardening/horticulture experience, as well as some knowledge of plants and horticultural techniques
  • Familiarity with machinery/equipment and accompanying practical certificates
  • Knowledge of Health and Safety compliance requirements
  • Excellent customer service
  • Willingness and enthusiasm to share the history of the garden with visitors, bringing it to life
  • Commitment for what you are doing, always remaining proud of your work
  • You’ll have an NVQ 1-2 in Amenity Horticulture (or equivalent).

The package

Benefits

Benefits include flexible working whenever possible plus free parking at most locations. You’ll be entitled to discounts in high street stores and cinemas, National Trust shops and NT cafes, and have free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18).

Your health and wellbeing is important to us and is supported through generous annual leave and the option to buy additional days (minimum contract length applies), a cycle to work scheme, subsidised health cash plan and confidential access to a free support service 24 hours a day should you need it.

Your future financial health is helped by an employer matched - up to 10% of basic salary - contributory pension scheme and you can further your career with training and development tailored to you.

All of this and the opportunity to give something back to your community with up to 5 days of paid volunteering per year!

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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