Gardener

National-Trust; Castlerock; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance

Job summary

National Trust Downhill Demesne in Castlerock is seeking a hands-on Gardener to join the garden team. You’ll maintain daily garden care and help improve visitors' experience across the estate. This fixed-term, part-time role runs 30 hours a week with duties including pruning, weeding, mulching, and operating lawn machinery.

Start date 4th January 2027, with potential weekend work. You will supervise volunteers, work with events, and contribute to preserving historic garden features across the

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic horticulturist with hands-on gardening experience.
• Knowledgeable about plants with eye for detail.
• Experience using machinery such as tractors and mowers.
• Full driving licence required.
• Able to manage a demanding outdoor role and work with others.

Responsibilities

• Keep the gardens in tiptop condition daily.
• Perform daily safety checks for visitors and staff.
• Weeding, pruning and mulching as routine tasks.
• Operate machinery such as hedge cutters, leaf blowers, lawnmowers and tractors.
• Support propagation, garden design and restoration.
• Assist in recycling and waste management with the garden team.
• Supervise volunteers and collaborate with events to present the gardens to the public.

Skills

Hands-on gardening

Plant knowledge

Machinery experience

Full driving licence

Team player

Tools

Tractors

Chainsaws

Lawn mowers

Rotary mower

Cylinder mower

Job description

As a Gardener for the National Trust, you’ll be a hands‑on member of the garden team, involved in every aspect of gardening at Downhill Demesne. Responsible for day‑to‑day maintenance, and the highest standards of horticulture, you’ll also play a vital role in improving the experience of visitors to the garden and wider estate.

Salary: £14.16 per hour

Contract:10 months Fixed term contract. This is a fixed term contract due to end when the postholder returns to the role. At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it is unlikely to be more than 10 months.

Hours/ working pattern: Part-time, 30 hours per week.You may be asked to work occasional weekends, bank holidays and evenings.

Start date: 4th January 2027

What it's like to work here

Mussenden Temple & Downhill Demesne is a small coastal site just outside Castlerock. The gardens include the 18th Century walled garden built by Earl Bishop Frederick Hervey, Bishop's Gate garden that was remodelled by the Bruce family at the turn of the 20th Century, as well as the garden at Hezlett House.

You will be working in a small team of staff and volunteers at Downhill Demesne, alongside the wider NI North Coast property group.

What you'll be doing

You’ll be helping to keep the gardens in tiptop condition every day. This might involve daily checks to make sure all areas are safe for people visiting, routine tasks such as weeding, pruning and mulching, and using machinery such as hedge cutters, leaf blowers, lawnmowers and tractors.

Other duties might include propagation, garden design and restoration. You may be involved in recycling and managing waste, along with the rest of the garden team.

You will also supervise an enthusiastic team of dedicated volunteers, and working with the events team to present the gardens to the public in new and innovative ways.

Who we’re looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• an enthusiastic horticulturist and hands‑on gardener, who’s worked with hard landscaping before
• knowledgeable about plants, with a great eye for detail.
• experienced with machinery, including tractors, chainsaws, rotary and cylinder mowers, and with some knowledge of maintenance
• a driver with a full licence
• able to manage a demanding outdoor role
• good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people
• equally confident working within a team, with volunteers or on your own
• able to keep to time, plan and meet deadlines

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 audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

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.

National Trust place

Downhill Demesne, Mussenden Road, Castlerock, BT51 4RP

Documents

Gardener - Career Level B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 15th November 2026

Interview: Week commencing 16th November 2026

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applicants regardless of religious beliefs, political opinion, race, sex, marital status, age or disability.

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 .

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.