Assistant Gardener

Summary Our careers are as varied as the places we care for and that’s why we look for people from all backgrounds, with a variety of skills and abilities to help us maintain our places ‘for everyone, for ever’.

**Hours**: The role is expected to work 4 full days per week (30hrs per week). You will be expected to stand in for the Senior Gardener at times which can mean that you may be the only garden staff present on the site at any one time and so you must bewilling and able to work alone and supervise volunteers. The site is open 7 days a week throughout the year, so you'll need to be happy working some weekends.

**Salary range**:circa £15,000 depending on experience

What it's like to work here Uppark was built c.1690, crowning the South Downs ridge in West Sussex, with stunning views out to the Solent. Uppark is a fine example of a family home built during the golden age of country-house construction in the 17th century, cherished by generationsof families and the survivor of turbulent events.

The interiors and gardens are predominantly associated with the Fetherstonhaugh family who bought the estate in 1747, though changes were made later to the approaches, gardens and interiors by renowned architect and landscape designer Humphry Repton. Todaythe gardens are presented in that same picturesque Repton style, including a scented garden west of the drive to evoke the designer’s belief in the importance of ‘olfactory joy’ in any garden. The main ‘amphitheatre’ garden, enclosed in knapped-flint walls,provides the required conditions for flowering shrubs, bulbs, annuals and perennial herbaceous plants.

For wildlife and nature conservation, the garden team sympathetically manages the gardens, meadow and woodland to encourage and conserve wildlife as part of the National Trust wildlife ambitions.

For more information, visit:
uppark

What you'll be doing As our Assistant Gardener at Uppark House & Garden, you will be a key player in the long-term ambitions for returning this stunning Repton-style garden to its full historical glory. It’s an exciting time to join us as we continue our work on reinstatingan historic path network around the garden, creating better accessibility for everyone to enjoy this beautiful garden throughout the year. Reporting to our Senior Gardener, this is an ideal role for someone who has a passion for the horticultural world, butalso how our landscapes were created from an historical perspective. You’ll be hands on, every day, working with our brilliant team of garden volunteers and helping to share your passion and enthusiasm for this beautiful site with our 70,000+ visitors eachyear.

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).
The package 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 audienceswe 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.