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Assistant Gardener

Employer
National Trust
Location
Blickling Estate, Blickling, Norwich, NR11 6NF
Salary
£9.90 per hour
Closing date
29 May 2022

Job Details

Summary        

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        

Blickling is an extraordinary place, a historic country estate with deep-rooted ties to the pastoral Norfolk landscape it typifies. The estate is spread over 4,600 acres, including landscaped gardens, parkland and agricultural land and a Grade I Jacobean Hall and outbuildings. The gardens are 55 acres, including an orchard and walled garden, parterre designed by Norah Lindsay and mixed woodland.    

You’ll be working in a team of six gardeners led by a Head Gardener. The role includes the opportunity to work in one of the finest National Trust Gardens in the Country. You’ll work with the team and on a broad range of tasks offering you training and the opportunity to develop new skills.

What you'll be doing        

You’ll be working with the garden team and volunteers to maintain our highly important garden. You’ll work to ensure high standards and that the distinctive specialness of place is preserved. Much of the job will be outside and hands-on with the team. You’ll work together to ensure we monitor and develop new sustainable ways of working with the environment and conservation at the core of what we do.    

You’ll also work closely with other departments across the estate to ensure a quality experience for visitors. You will also be working with the countryside team to improve nature conservation. We are also entering a phase of planning and development for the long-term future of the gardens which you will contribute to.   

Some weekend and bank holiday working is a requirement of this role. We anticipate this being at least one weekend day a week.   

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:

  • 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).

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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