Arborist

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Parks; Hythe; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Training and development

Free park entry for you and a guest

Discounts on food, retail and stays

Counselling line

Additional length-of-service benefits

Job summary

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Parks is seeking experienced Arborists to join our expanding Arboriculture Department. You will carry out routine and emergency tree maintenance across both parks and off-site woodland areas, identifying hazardous trees and recommending action.

The role requires at least three years’ experience, CS30/31/32/38/39 (or equivalent) and a valid First Aid at Work, plus a full driving licence to travel between sites.

Qualifications

• Three years’ arborist experience and a willingness to develop skills.
• Valid CS30/31/32/38/39 (or equivalent) and a First Aid at Work cert are essential.
• Ability to work safely with a range of arboricultural tools and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine and emergency tree maintenance across both parks and off-site woodland areas.
• Identify hazardous trees and assess issues such as damage and disease, and recommend action.
• Prune trees using rope and harness techniques; provide aerial rescue support and timber processing.
• Maintain tools and equipment; support the wider team and mentor trainees.

Skills

Arborist experience

Teamwork

Safety-conscious

Education

NPTC CS30/31/32/38/39 (or equivalent)

First Aid at Work

Tools

MEWP operator certification

Trailer towing licence

Tractors, trailers and chippers experience

Job description

Closing date: 21 November 2026

Salary: Competitive Salary DOE, Plus Desirable Benefits

Full Time, Permanent Positions Available

Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?

Do you want to work in a place where you can hear the roar from our pride of Lions, or calls from troops of Howler Monkeys?

The Arboriculture Department at Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is looking for Arborists to join our expanding team.

As an Arborist, you will carry out routine and emergency tree maintenance across both parks and our off-site woodland areas. This will include identifying hazardous trees, assessing issues such as damage and disease, and recommending appropriate action. You will undertake a range of practical arboricultural work, including tree pruning using rope and harness techniques, aerial rescue support, timber processing and site clearance.

You will also help maintain tools and equipment, support the wider team, and share your knowledge and skills with colleagues and trainee arborists. The role requires a strong commitment to safe working practices, ongoing learning and maintaining high standards across all areas of the department.

The Person

We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic Arborists with a genuine interest in trees and the outdoors. You will have at least three years’ experience, a willingness to learn and develop your skills, and the ability to work safely and confidently with a range of arboricultural tools and equipment.

You will hold NPTC CS30/31/32/38/39 (or equivalent) and a valid First Aid at Work certificate. A full, valid driving licence is also essential, as you will be required to drive company vehicles between sites. You should be confident working as part of a team, sharing your knowledge with others and deputising for the Team Leader when required. Additional qualifications such as NPTC CS40/41, MEWP operator certification and a trailer towing licence, along with experience operating tractors, trailers and chippers, would be advantageous. However, training and opportunities to develop further skills will be available.

Contract Details

Two positions are available, offering permanent, full-time employment at 40 hours per week. The usual working hours are 7:30am–4:00pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend and bank holiday working as required by the needs of the business.

Salary will be dependent on experience. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Due to our remote locations, access to reliable transport is recommended.

The location:

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodation, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Our sister park, Howletts Wild Animal Park is located near Canterbury and set within 90 acres of land. Howletts is home to over 300 rare and endangered species, including Kents only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county!

Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.

Why You Should Join Us

As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will also join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.

You can also expect a host of other benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising with length of service.
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning
• Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
• Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
• Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
• Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
• And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits

(Please note, this role may close early if we receive a high volume of applications.)