Gardener

ASVA; Musselburgh; Remote; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Trust for Scotland at Newhailes House and Gardens in Musselburgh is seeking a hands-on Gardener's Assistant to conserve and present 84-acre designed landscape. Under the Head Gardener, you will help maintain the market garden, estate, and grounds to the Trust’s standards while engaging visitors and volunteers.

You will contribute to soil work, propagation, plant care, pruning, equipment operation, and event support, with opportunities to lead tasks for volunteers and support

Responsibilities

• Soil preparation, soil testing, composting, mulching.
• Propagation (seed sowing, cuttings, transplanting), nursery-work, planting out under Head Gardener.
• Management of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and fruit/vegetables.
• Pruning of wall trained fruit, ornamental shrubs, fruit bushes, and hedges.
• Lawn care: seeding, feeding, mowing, edging, scarifying, aerating.
• Weed control and disposal of arisings.
• Hard landscaping, maintenance of paths and walk-ways, fences and boundaries.
• Leaf-raking, deadfall removal.
• Integrated Pest Management; litter picking.
• Work with volunteers, providing instruction and ensuring safe task delivery.
• Assist with machinery operation and general estate maintenance.
• Assist with weather records and plant labelling.
• Education/interpretation activities: talks and guided walks.
• Support wider enjoyment of the gardens and events.

Tools

Tractors

Ride-on mowers

Strimmers

Hedgecutters

Chainsaws

Job description

Organisation: The National Trust for Scotland

Location: Newhailes House and Gardens. Newhailes Rd, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY

JOB PURPOSE

Under the leadership of the Head Gardener, to help conserve and maintain Newhailes House and Gardens to the Trust’s standards, promote the garden to visitors, and play a part in the wider running of the property.

CONTEXT

Newhailes is an 84-acre designed landscape and pleasure grounds consisting of woodland, water gardens, follies, farmland, children’s playpark, and a market garden. The successful candidate will assist and support the property and gardens team in the conservation, care, and presentation of the property’s market garden, designed landscape and estate, ensuring that all areas are maintained to the highest standards and to the enjoyment of all visitors and supporters, whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or personal work. The market garden is managed, maintained, and developed to provide produce to sell on site, and for use in the café, contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Undertake routine, cyclical, and project practical conservation and maintenance of the garden, such as (but not limited to):
   • Soil preparation, soil testing, soil improvement, composting, mulching;
   • Propagation (from seed sowing, cuttings, grafting), nursery-work, planting out, transplanting, under direction of Head Gardener;
   • Management of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, annual plantings fruit and vegetables;
   • Pruning of wall trained fruit, ornamental shrubs, fruit bushes, and hedges;
   • Management of turf, such as seeding, feeding, mowing, edging, scarifying, aerating, strimming;
   • Weed control, clearing/control of invasive species, and adequate disposal using composting or bonfires dispose of arisings and unhealthy plant material;
   • Hard landscaping, maintenance of paths and walk-ways, maintenance of fences and boundaries;
   • Leaf-raking, deadfall removal;
   • Integrated Pest Management;
   • Litter picking;
   • Work alongside and support volunteers, providing instruction and ensuring safe and effective task delivery.
2. Assisting with general property and estate maintenance. Activities include:
   • Operate and maintain horticultural machinery including tractors, ride-on mowers, strimmers, hedgecutters, chainsaws etc. in accordance with Trust Health & Safety procedures, completing relevant records where required. - pre-start checks, HAVs etc.
3. Assist, as required, with plant records and labelling, or any monitoring or recording of e.g. weather conditions.
4. Assist with education/interpretation activities such as introductory talks and guided walks.
5. On occasion, supervise and work with volunteers, student placements, garden interns, and/or apprentices to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities.
6. Assisting as required with the general enjoyment of the gardens and wider estate by:
   • Responding to general visitor enquiries.
   • Answering basic horticultural enquiries from visitors.
   • Assisting at events held at the property and within the cluster.
   • Assisting with monthly newsletters and articles where appropriate.
7. Undertake other reasonable duties, as may from time to time be required, to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Head Gardener/Operations Manager such as set up and breakdown of functions and events.