Gardening Apprentice

We have a vacancy for an enthusiastic individual to join the Leonardslee garden team as an Apprentice. You will work alongside the team to learn all aspects of the job of maintaining, restoring and improving this wonderful woodland garden, and preserving its precious plant collection for the enjoyment of the garden’s many visitors.

The gardens at Leonardslee are currently looked after by a team of 14 gardeners and you will work alongside members of the team to develop your skills in all aspects of restoring, maintaining, and improving the gardens. You will have a designated supervisor, who will help you to get the most from your work experience and who will support you throughout your time at Leonardslee. The supervisor will also help you to find and secure any off-site training, as necessary, to give you a well-rounded work experience. Additional learning and development opportunities include regular plant identification tests, toolbox talks from the team and visits to other gardens.

You will spend most of your time outside, working in the garden. Jobs include garden maintenance tasks, such as weeding and leaf clearing, watering plants, mulching, mowing and other lawn care, hedge cutting, and strimming. You’ll support with the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and our famous collections of rare and unusual plants. You will also help to maintain the lakes, including regulating flows and controlling weed growth.

You will also be very involved with the on-going restoration and improvement of the gardens. Projects include restoring the historic Rock Garden, re-instating sandstone walls and path edges, re-designing the gardens around the estate mansion, adding thousands of spring bulbs and plants with summer flowering interest.

**Desired skills**

Keen interest in horticulture and the natural environment

**Desired qualifications**

Minimum entry-level national apprenticeship scheme standards requirements

**Desired personal qualities**
- Positive attitude
- Eagerness to learn
- Hard-working
- Practical, personable
- Conscientious
- Reliable and adaptable team worker

**Expected Duration**:
24 Months

**Working Week**:

- Mon - Fri, summer hours 07.30 - 16.30 winter hours 07.45 - 16.00
- 4 days per week at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens with 1 day a week tuition time at Brinsbury College, Pulborough.

Compensation: £7.50/hour