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Gardener

Employer
National Trust
Location
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB
Salary
£19928
Closing date
28 Feb 2021

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Job Details

We're looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Gardener to join our team here at Sissinghurst. We are known for our exceptional grounds keeping, if you have a keen eye for detail and are an experience Gardener, please keep on reading.

What it's like to work here                      

Sissinghurst is a highly personal garden planned by two people whose artistry was matched by their plant knowledge and who had an individual point of view.  To perpetuate a garden made by two such individuals requires gardeners not only with supreme horticultural knowledge and skill but also gardeners with vision, sensitivity and most importantly an instinctive feeling for the spirit of the place.

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 are looking for              

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

Knowledge

  • Trained as a professional gardener/horticulturalist and qualified to RHS Level 2 or equivalent.
  • Good knowledge of plant husbandry and horticultural techniques.

Skills

  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in written form.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to work methodically.
  • Ability to prioritise workload.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Competence with machinery and equipment use.
  • Knowledge of Health and Safety and compliance requirements
  • Confidence to participate in garden activities and events.

Experience

  • At least two years’ practical experience as a professional gardener or horticulturalist.

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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