Assistant Gardener

Job description

If you want a career in Gardening, we can offer you some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the UK to work in.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the garden teams at both Emmetts and Chartwell. The garden teams work within the Chartwell portfolio outdoor team which cares for Emmetts Garden, Chartwell, West Kent Countryside and Quebec House. Whilst you will be based at Emmetts and Chartwell from time to time there will be great opportunities to work on shared workdays within the Garden and Countryside team across the portfolio.

It is anticipated that this role will work 3 days a week at Emmetts garden and 2 days a week at Chartwell.

There will be an expectation that you will work weekends, bank holidays and some evenings on a rota basis.

Salary: Circa £18,500 per annum depending on experience

Contract Type: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week

Emmetts is a wonderful woodland garden with strong horticultural interest, developed by the Lubbock family who were keen plant collectors of their time. The garden designed in the naturalistic style of William Robinson featuring a Rock Garden, Rose Garden and fine tree collection. Emmetts sits on one of the highest points in Kent and as such commands stunning views over the Weald; an Area of Outstanding, Natural, Beauty. Emmetts is extremely popular with young families who enjoy the tranquil surroundings and the safety of the gardens. The gardens are popular with garden enthusiasts too and in total we now receive over 140,000 visitors a year.

Chartwell is a truly wonderful site with international importance as it was the family home for the Churchill family. As a result the gardens are a creation between Winston and Clementine Churchill, visitors today can enjoy many aspects including a walk through Lady Clementine’s Rose Garden and the magnificent views across Winston’s ingenious water features. In a normal year Chartwell attracts in excess of 230,000 visitors a year.

Your role will be to support our Senior outdoor team with the day to day care of both gardens whilst being responsible for small areas of the gardens, to care and develop them. Your line manager will be the Head Gardener based at Emmetts Garden however the Assistant Head Gardener at Chartwell will be your dotted line manager. This will enable consistent support during your time at both Emmetts and Chartwell.

Through the season you will assist with trimming the hedges, mowing, seed sowing, planting, mulching and most excitingly the development of borders. We have an exciting piece of work to enhance the tulip displays at Emmetts this autumn which this role will be involved with too.

You will assist with the delivery of projects including an active project to fully restore the North Garden at Emmetts. As well as these projects there is the day to day work which includes anything from annual rose pruning through to planting out spring bedding across the site. The visitor experience is an extremely important aspect of the role and in being an Assistant Gardener you will be key to driving an improved experience for our visitors here. In addition to this you will support with operational risk and compliance in the garden.

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

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).

The 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.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.