Gardener

National Trust; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; 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

Job summary

National Trust at Cliveden seeks a hands-on Gardener to join the garden team, maintaining and improving the year-round grounds and enhancing visitor experience.

You will perform daily checks, weeding, pruning and mulching, and operate hedge cutters, leaf blowers and mowers while ensuring safety.

This role requires enthusiasm for horticulture, plant knowledge and the ability to work with volunteers and staff on an historic estate.

Qualifications

• Hands-on gardener with practical approach to maintaining and improving gardens.
• Good knowledge of plants with a keen eye for detail.
• Experience with garden machinery and some maintenance knowledge.
• Full driving licence required.
• Able to work outdoors in varying conditions and manage time to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Keep the gardens in top condition with daily checks for safety and tidiness.
• Weeding, pruning and mulching as routine duties.
• Operate machinery such as hedge cutters, leaf blowers, mowers and tractors.
• Carry out propagation and composting tasks.
• Assist with tree safety work and other horticultural projects.
• May work occasional weekends, bank holidays and evenings.

Skills

Hands-on gardening

Horticulture

Plant knowledge

Garden machinery

Driving licence

Time management

Team player

Communication

Tools

Garden machinery

Job description

Summary

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 Cliveden. 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.

What It's Like To Work Here

The Cliveden team are close‑knit with a wonderful sense of community, and the skilled and dedicated staff are supported by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. The iconic estate, with a luxury hotel, beautiful gardens and riverside setting, offers family‑friendly events operating all year round. We welcome over half a million visitors each year, making this property a very busy location with a wide range of opportunities for personal growth. There is always plenty to do at the 376‑acre estate, with refurbishment of the famous Long Garden among recent projects, and ambitious plans to upgrade the visitor infrastructure.

There are a series of impressive formal gardens giving way to serene woodland walks, all with far‑reaching views and an abundance of interest throughout the seasons, which forms an inspiring backdrop to your working week. Not far from London, the location is wonderfully rural, so you'll need your own transport to get here.

Click here for more information about this location

What you'll be doing

You'll be helping to keep the gardens in tip‑top 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, composting, tree safety work and much more.

You may be asked to work occasional weekends, bank holidays and evenings.

Who We're Looking For

• 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 garden machinery, and with some knowledge of maintenance
• a driver with a full licence
• able to manage a demanding outdoor role
• a good communicator
• 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)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan