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Senior Gardener

Employer
National Trust
Location
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Salary
£24,075 per annum
Closing date
3 Oct 2019

Job Details

We are about to embark on an ambitious project here at Gibside and are looking for a Senior Gardener to support this. If you are an energetic people person with previous experience in the propagation of plant collections we'd love to hear from you.

What it's like to work here

We are currently in the feasibility stage of a new walled garden project involving a redesign to create a contemporary space that reflects the surrounding historic landscape and tells the story of Mary Eleanor Bowes, a key Gibside character. It is an exciting development and part of an even larger visitor infrastructure improvement project.

The new garden is designed by an award-winning designer and is expected to be a real horticultural gem. It is a playful interpretation, with something for all ages. The planting is both sculptural and colourful, providing nectar for wildlife and seasonal interest all year round.

What you'll be doing

In response to Gibside’s work within the local urban community, we have decided to grow all 38,000 herbaceous plants for the new garden in collaboration with local community groups. You will be involved in developing a community engagement programme in conjunction with schools, community groups and visitors, ensuring everyone is engaged with the project and new skills are developed in the process. You will be carrying out your work with assistance from a new group of propagation volunteers and an assistant gardener which you will recruit.

You will be responsible for running the program, looking after budgets and managing a small team of staff and volunteers.

Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert.

Who we're looking for

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

  • Significant practical experience in horticulture, including enhanced propagation skills, supported by relevant qualifications
  • Have significant experience of any of the following; community working, learning and development, partnership working and interpretation
  • Be motivated and able to use your own initiative, as you will be the lead on this part of the project
  • Competent with the use and maintenance of garden machinery and equipment relevant to this role
  • Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation and practice

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, a loan towards rental deposits 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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