Garden Supervisor - Formal and Woodland

National Trust; Tiverton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension scheme up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Rental deposit loan

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

Knightshayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton, EX16 7RQ is seeking an experienced Gardener Supervisor to lead the care, conservation and development of the Formal and Woodland Garden and a conservatory. You will work with a team, coaching staff and volunteers to deliver high standards of horticulture and visitor experience.

We’re looking for practical horticultural expertise, a Level 3/4 qualification or equivalent, and a strong focus on health and safety, collaboration and project planning.

Qualifications

• Practical horticultural experience with a Level 3/4 horticultural qualification or equivalent.
• Experience or knowledge of maintaining a large garden with different area characters.
• Experience or knowledge of unheated display glasshouse (conservatory).
• Strong plant knowledge and understanding of garden management and conservation.
• Experience in leading, supporting or developing staff and/or volunteers.
• Strong health and safety, compliance and risk management knowledge.
• Experience delivering training, coaching or sharing horticultural knowledge.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience planning projects and managing resources with collaborative styles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the care, conservation and development of the Formal and Woodland Garden and a conservatory.
• Support care for Walled Kitchen Garden and wider outdoor areas while coaching staff and volunteers.
• Manage risks, ensure safe working practices and compliance with legislation and National Trust policies.
• Assist with budgets, resources, small projects, and contractor coordination.
• Create engaging visitor experiences and interpret garden features for diverse audiences.

Skills

Horticultural experience

Staff leadership

Health and safety awareness

Training & coaching

Communication & relationships

Project planning & collaboration

Education

Level 3/4 horticultural qualification or equivalent

Job description

Summary

At Knightshayes, the Formal and Woodland Gardens tell the story of over 150 years of horticultural ambition, creativity and plant collecting. From the elegant terraces and garden compartments designed by Edward Kemp in the Victorian era to the enchanting woodland garden developed by Sir John and Lady Heathcoat-Amory after the Second World War, these gardens are among the most distinctive and historically important in the South West.

Are you an experienced horticulturist looking for an opportunity to lead, develop people and help a special garden thrive? If you're passionate about plants, conservation and creating welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy, we'd love to hear from you.

What It's Like To Work Here

You'll be part of a collaborative property team, working alongside colleagues from across the organisation and external partners. The role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to conservation, visitor engagement and garden development, while helping to ensure the garden remains relevant and inspiring for a wide range of visitors.

For more information about our property please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes-court

What You'll Be Doing

You'll lead the care, conservation and development of the Formal and Woodland Garden and a conservatory. You will also work closely with and give support to the care for our Walled Kitchen Garden and wider outdoor areas. Working closely with your team, you'll support staff, trainees and volunteers through coaching, training and practical leadership.

You'll take responsibility for managing risks, maintaining safe working practices and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and National Trust policies. You'll also support the management of budgets and resources, oversee small projects, work with contractors where required and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and innovation.

An important part of the role is helping to create engaging visitor experiences. Whether interpreting garden features, supporting events, speaking with visitors or working with local communities, you'll help people connect with the garden and the work that happens behind the scenes.

You can view the full role profile in the attached document. You don't need to meet every requirement listed; the profile is intended to provide a complete picture of the role and its potential scope

Who We're Looking For

• Practical horticultural experience, supported by a Level 3/4 horticultural qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience or knowledge of maintaining a large garden with different area characters
• Experience or knowledge of unheated display glasshouse (conservatory)
• Strong plant knowledge and an understanding of garden management and conservation
• Experience of leading, supporting or developing staff and/or volunteers
• Strong understanding of health and safety, compliance and risk management
• Experience of delivering training, coaching or sharing horticultural knowledge
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience of planning projects, managing resources and working collaboratively with others.

The package

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Knightshayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton, EX16 7RQ

Documents

• Gardener Supervisor Additional Information.pdf
• Garden Supervisor - C.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date: 15 November 2026

Interview Date: 26 November 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.