Gardener

National Trust; Stourbridge; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 12,000; Part time

Job summary

A gardening position within the National Trust is available at a beautiful site in Stourbridge. As a part-time Gardener, you will maintain gardens and lead a team of volunteer gardeners. This role offers the opportunity to work outdoors year-round and help provide an exceptional experience for visitors. Applicants should have a strong background in horticulture, familiarity with tools, and excellent communication skills. A full UK driving licence is required, along with flexibility in working hours, including weekends and bank holidays.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Discounts for gym memberships and shopping

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Qualifications

• Knowledge of practical horticulture and plant care.
• Ability to contribute to teamwork and volunteer support.
• Understanding of machinery use and safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the garden and ensure visitor safety.
• Lead a team of volunteer gardeners.
• Perform routine gardening tasks and machinery operation.

Skills

Practical horticulture knowledge

Teamwork

Machinery use and safety compliance

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tools

Tractors

Chainsaws

Mowers

Job description

Kinver Edge, The Wardens' Lodge, Stourbridge, DY7 6HU

Pay:

£13.74 per hour

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

05/02/2026

About this job

Important notice In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

As a part time Gardener for the National Trust, you’ll be a hands‑on member of the team, involved in every aspect of gardening at Kinver Edge & the Rock Houses.

Responsible for day‑to‑day maintenance, and the highest standards of horticulture with good plant knowledge relevant to the property.

You’ll also play a vital role in improving the experience of visitors to the garden and wider estate.

The role will also involve people management, leading a team of volunteer gardeners and being on the duty manager rota at the Rock Houses.

This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year.

You’ll work 780 hours per year.

You’ll be required to work more hours during the summer months and fewer over the winter.

You’ll be expected to work a Thursday with flexibility on the other days, and it will include working some weekends and bank holidays.

A full UK driving licence will be required as the ability to drive estate vehicles is essential to the role.

What it's like to work here

We’re a small, friendly staff team at the Rock Houses so we all do what in necessary to ensure that the property is well cared for and provides a great experience for our visitors.

Working as part of the South Shropshire portfolio of NT properties, you'll have the opportunity to work collaboratively with the other garden teams at Dudmaston and Benthall Hall as well as having support from our national team.

What you'll be doing

As the only gardener you'll be helping to keep the garden in tiptop condition.

This might involve regular checks to make sure all areas are safe for people visiting, routine tasks such as weeding, pruning, mowing and mulching, and using machinery such as hedge cutters, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, chainsaws and tractors.

Training will be provided.

You’ll be responsible for leading a team of volunteer gardeners, all associated compliance tasks / risk assessments, garden maintenance planning, firewood supply & processing for the Rock Houses and working with other team members supporting our visitor programming.

You’ll be on the Duty Manager rota for the Rock Houses which will mean being the most senior people on site, ensuring the safe opening and closing of the site, dealing with any visitor escalations and leading on the fire / emergency evacuation procedure.

Other duties might include some general handyman tasks, propagation, preparing plants / produce for sale, tree safety work, garden design and restoration, supporting the property team with events and opening & closing of the car parks plus as part of a small team any other tasks that are needed to support the property.

Who we’re looking for

Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role.

In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below: knowledge of practical horticulture and plant care ability to contribute to teamwork and volunteer support understanding of machinery use and safety compliance experience in work programme and project support confidence in communication and public engagement.

Criteria for all other applicants: 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

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
• 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