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Head Gardener

Employer
National Trust
Location
BA12 6QF, Warminster
Salary
£40,000 pa
Closing date
25 Apr 2021

Job Details

Stourhead is at the heart of a 2,650 acre estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland meet designed landscape gardens. The Head gardener role is both challenging and rewarding in equal measure; it is the driving force behind long-term horticultural delivery and a key leadership role which operates with a significant degree of autonomy. 

What it's like to work here

An 18th Century Palladian mansion with a world-famous landscape garden, its no surprise that Stourhead is one of our busiest and ‘best loved’ properties. It’s a centrepiece of the community and the high level of repeat regular visitors make it a hugely rewarding place to work. With a huge catering operation and sizable retail outlet, the 50 strong team work closely with local partners and businesses. Whether you want to work indoors, outdoors, in the ice cream parlour or restaurant, there are opportunities for everyone at Stourhead.

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What you'll be doing

We have made a significant investment in the structure of the garden and ranger team at Stourhead, including raising the role profiles and recent recruitments of further skilled and experienced individuals. With care and support the new structure and roles have begun to settle well and the team are ready for a new Head Gardener to provide them with the vision and leadership needed to take the whole garden and wider estate to the next level. 

Combining technical plant knowledge with genuine artistry and creativity, your challenge is to interpret and develop this internationally significant garden whilst remaining true to the spirit of Henry and Richard Colt Hoare’s original intentions. 

Who we're looking for

You will use your appreciation of the 18th century English Landscape garden spirit, history and heritage, combined with your demonstrable skills and experience, to develop a clear and coherent vision for the garden’s future direction. You’ll then lead by example your talented team to realise it, taking decisive steps and moving with pace, energy and enthusiasm, to ensure Stourhead meets and exceeds expectations with respect to standards of conservation, presentation and engagement. 

 

Like everyone here, you will relish the chance to share your love of the place and you will work with the whole property team to ensure all areas combine to deliver a coherent and integrated experience completely in tune with its spirit. Your bedrock will be ‘The Conservation of the Garden at Stourhead’ conservation plan of 1973 to shape and evolve your own long-term management plans (for garden, woodland and parkland).

The package

Benefits for working at the National Trust:

  • Flexible working whenever possible
  • Free parking at most locations
  • Discounts in high street stores, cinemas, National Trust properties and cafes.
  • Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
  • Generous annual leave
  • Subsidised health cash plan
  • Free 24-hour support service
  • Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
  • Training & Development tailored to you
  • Up to 5 days of paid volunteering for you.

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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