Gardener

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Chipping Campden; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a hands-on Gardener for Hidcote's garden team. The role focuses on day-to-day maintenance, high horticultural standards, and improving visitor experience on site at Hidcote.

Part-time, 17 hours per week, with occasional weekends and evenings. Driver with a full licence and ability to work outdoors are preferred. Temporary? No — permanent contract with benefits.

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic horticulturist with hands-on gardening experience.
• Knowledgeable about plants and garden maintenance.
• Experience with machinery such as tractors, chainsaws, and mowers.
• Full driving licence holders preferred.
• Able to manage a demanding outdoor role and meet deadlines.
• Good communication and teamwork with volunteers and staff.

Responsibilities

• Carry out day-to-day garden maintenance and horticultural tasks.
• Conduct safety checks and ensure health and safety paperwork is up to date.
• Operate garden machinery including hedge cutters, leaf blowers, mowers and tractors.
• Supervise volunteers and assist with small garden projects.
• Maintain tidy, safe garden areas for visitors and teams.

Skills

Hands-on gardener

Plant knowledge

Machinery experience

Driver with full licence

Outdoor role management

People/team interaction

Time management

Tools

Tractors

Chainsaws

Rotary mowers

Cylinder mowers

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 Hidcote. 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.

Contract: Permanent

Hours/ working pattern: Part‑time, 17 hours per week. This role will include working occasional weekends, bank holidays and evenings.

What it's like to work here

As a significant early 20th century garden of its time, Hidcote is a special place, now harnessing Lawrence Johnston's vision for the garden alongside the challenges of a changing climate and the need to work more sustainably and improve the garden's resilience for present and future generations.

You'll spend each day at a really special place, and working alongside talented, knowledgeable, committed and friendly people, using a combination of technical skills, knowledge and creativity to help conserve these places, for everyone. You'll see the impact of your work each day and be rewarded to hear from visitors about how they have enjoyed and connected with the garden.

What you'll be doing

You'll be helping to keep the garden looking it's best 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 supervising volunteers, working in the glasshouse, working on small garden projects and ensuring health and safety checks and paperwork are up to date.

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

Hidcote Manor Garden, Hidcote Bartrim, Chipping Campden, GL55 6LR

Documents

Gardener - Career Level B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 1st 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.