Gardeners play a hugely important role, thinking long term to look after our special places. We're looking for you to join our Outdoors team at Wentworth Castle Gardens. If you have experience in practical horticulture and community engagement then we'd like to hear from you. Working in our diverse garden your love of horticulture and the outdoors will inspire others who work alongside you or visit our site.
As we are open 7 days a week you'll work weekends, bank holidays and occasional evenings.
We're currently undertaking our pay review process and it is likely that this salary will be increased from 1st April 2025.
What it's like to work hereReporting to the Senior Gardener, you'll be working as part of a team of staff and volunteers. Your role will be varied and you'll be working in a range of garden areas including woodland gardens, mixed shrub and herbaceous borders, restored Victorian conservatory, Fernery and flower garden. The gardens have a National Collection of species Rhododendron, species Magnolia and Camellia X Williamsii.
As the only Grade 1 listed landscape in South Yorkshire, the Wentworth Castle Gardens team put people at the heart of everything we do, and our ambition is to create an experience where everyone feels welcome and able to enjoy this vital green space to explore, relax, play and spend time together outdoors.
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 enthusiastic 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 and helping to cut the hedges and mow our 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 supervise 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 questions, assist with tours and helping set up events when needed.
Your work will support the conservation actions and vision set out within the Garden Management Plan.
You'll be expected to support the wider property team by being part of the weekly Duty Manager rota. You'll be the main point of contact for the day including co-ordinating the response to situations that may arise. You'll also lead the daily property briefing and to oversee end of day operations. You'll ensure that the experience of our visitors is as enjoyable as possible and that standards of presentation are maintained.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what's possible in this role.Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you if you're:
- an enthusiastic horticulturist and hands-on gardener, who's worked with hard landscaping before
- knowledgeable about plants, with a great eye for detail.
- experienced with machinery, including tractors, chainsaws, rotary and cylinder mowers, and with some knowledge of maintenance
- a driver with a full licence
- able to manage a demanding outdoor role
- good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people
- equally confident working within a team, with volunteers or on your own
- able to keep to time, plan and meet deadlines
The packageThe National Trust has the motto 'For everyone, for ever' at its heart. We're working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It's important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we're for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places
