Gardener - East Grinstead

The National Trust; East Grinstead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization seeks a Gardener to join their team in East Grinstead. Responsibilities include maintaining garden standards, performing various horticultural tasks, and engaging with visitors. Ideal candidates are passionate about horticulture, experienced with various gardening machinery, and possess strong teamwork and communication skills. This role offers a supportive work environment with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme up to 10%

Free entry for family to National Trust places

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working

EV car lease scheme

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic horticulturist and hands-on gardener with experience.
• Knowledgeable about plants and detail-oriented.
• Experienced with machinery, including maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain garden standards and safety checks.
• Perform routine tasks like weeding, pruning, and mulching.
• Assist in plant propagation and garden restoration.

Skills

Practical horticulture and plant care

Communication and public engagement

Teamwork and volunteer support

Tools

Tractor

Chainsaw

Hedge cutter

Lawnmower

Job description

Gardener - East Grinstead

Summary

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

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 Standen. 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.

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

What it’s like to work here

Standen is an arts and crafts family home set in a beautiful hillside garden. The strong arts and crafts offering includes varied exhibitions, a contemporary arts programme and collaborations with local artists. This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive team in an ever‑growing location. Standen is jam‑packed with borders providing lots of ideas for visitors gardens at home. The plant shop sells plants grown in the nursery and seasonal kitchen garden produce is available to buy.

Click here for more information about this location

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be helping to keep the garden 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, cutting flowers for the house, preparing plants for sale, tree safety work and garden design and restoration. You may be involved in recycling and managing waste, along with the rest of the garden team.

Who we’re looking for

Applications from redeployed employees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below :

• Practical horticulture and plant care
• Teamwork and volunteer support
• Machinery use and safety compliance
• Work programme and project support
• Communication and public engagement

Criteria for all other applicants

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)

Rental deposit loan scheme

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

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.