Gardener

Summary Woolbeding Gardens is one of West Sussex's best kept secrets, a wonderful horticultural haven with a great plant collection and high levels of presentation. You will be doing hands on gardening while working with a great team of horticulturists in a beautifulgarden.

**Hours**: 37.5 hrs pw

**Working pattern**:The Garden team work Monday to Friday with weekends on a rota, currently 1 weekend in 6. Normal summer working hours are 8am to 4.30pm and Winter working hours are 8am to 4pm.

**Duration**: Permanent contract.

What it's like to work here Woolbeding Gardens is a beautiful 30 acre, 21st Century Garden with artistic colour themed borders set within garden rooms and a collection of follies which merge into the surrounding landscape. The Pleasure Garden created by the Bannerman’s in the early2000's adds a romantic atmosphere with the Lake, Waterfall, Chinese Bridge and River God. The team of dedicated gardeners strive for horticultural excellence and high presentation standards, throughout, this role will be working in the formal gardens.

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What you'll be doing As a hands-on Gardener, you’ll assist in making sure that dedicated areas of the formal gardens are maintained to a high standard, including the Jebb display Glasshouse and Fountain Garden. You’ll be passionate about gardening and knowledgeable about plantsand basic border design. An eye for detail is essential to ensure high presentation standards.

This role will include a range of practical horticultural tasks to develop, enhance and conserve the garden for the long-term tenant in residence and National Trust visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

You'll be assisting with general maintenance of the garden, working in the formal borders, mowing the lawns, and leading on planting of dedicated areas with assistance from volunteers and other members of the team. No two days are the same, we grow manyplants ourselves and strive to put together well thought out colour themed borders throughout the open season. You may start the day rearranging plants for display in the greenhouse and end the day planting out annuals that you have sown.

You’ll support with the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs in all areas of the garden as part of a team, but will focus on the formal garden ensuring the highest standards are maintained and healthy plants are displayedwell.

You’ll also support garden volunteers and help them to make the most of their time here. You’ll be expected to interact with the public on open days and are encouraged to answer their many questions on plants or the property.

**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 below:

- Trained as a professional gardener/horticulturalist with a good level of practical experience.
- RHS Level 2 or equivalent.
- Have proven practical gardening/horticulture experience, as well as a strong knowledge of plants
- Competence with basic horticultural machinery/equipment use, including rotary mowers and leaf blowers etc.
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.