Plants Voluntary Work Placement

Chester Zoo; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A major wildlife charity located in Chester is looking for individuals passionate about plants for a voluntary work placement. This opportunity provides hands-on horticultural experience while working with a diverse collection of plants. Candidates will gain practical training and mentoring over a minimum duration of six months, with flexible hours available to accommodate various schedules. This role is essential to supporting the conservation efforts of the organization.

Benefits

Full uniform provided

Lunch vouchers for days attended

Monthly stipends of up to £120 based on expenses

Qualifications

• Interest in all aspects of horticulture and the work of Chester Zoo.
• Able to work creatively and on your own initiative.
• Financially support yourself for the entire length of the placement.

Responsibilities

• Working with an extensive temperate outdoor plant collection.
• Gaining experience in horticultural maintenance.
• Involvement in plant propagation and training.

Skills

Passion for plants

Ability to work in a team

Effective communication

Education

Horticulture or plant science related course at minimum Level 2 NVQ, HND or above

Job description

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Plants Voluntary Work Placement - Flexible - Part time or full time voluntary work placement from September 2025

Do you have a passion for plants? Are you excited by the prospect of gaining invaluable work experience with our award-winning Plant teams and collections? Here at Chester Zoo, we have an exciting opportunity to work with a diverse collection of temperate and tropical plants as well as gaining and developing hands on horticultural experience.

Chester zoo has an international reputation for conservation breeding programmes, research, and education, and these work placement opportunities are practical in nature with some theoretical input.

What you'll be doing...

• Working with an extensive temperate outdoor plant collection across the Chester Zoo site
• Gaining practical experience of the seasonal work to maintain herbaceous and shrub species
• Horticultural maintenance of feature gardens areas, including rock garden, wildlife gardens, woodland gardens alongside themed planted areas replicating geographic areas including "Islands", "Madagascar" and the newly opened "Heart of Africa"
• Supporting the maintenance of interior landscapes within the visitor access able areas of the indoor animal habitats.
• Involvement in horticultural development projects being undertaken on the zoo site.
• Working with a diverse collection of tropical plants, including the five National Plant collections that are cultivated in the greenhouses.
• Be involved in growing plants as part of the UK plant conservation projects that the zoo is involved in.
• Gaining experience and training in plant propagation, potting on, watering of a wide range of plants in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
• Attending monthly workshops, arranged to teach other Zoological management topics including basics of nutrition, collection planning, breeding programmes, conservation programmes, record keeping, enrichment, etc.

In the Nursery Team you will grow and propagate a wide range of rare, endangered, tropical, an hardy plants for our gardens, our conservation work, animal enclosures, animal houses, etc.

The Work Placement

• Voluntary work placement for a minimum of 6 months commencing in September 2025
• Comprehensive practical training covering a wide range of subjects, aiming to promote your future employability
• Full uniform provided, along with lunch vouchers for the days you attend
• Monthly stipends of up to £120 per month may be payable based on appropriate expenses
• This placement is from 24-40 hours per week worked over a minimum of 3 days. We are flexible to accommodate part-time hours for the right candidate.
• The Plants teams typically work 5 days out of 7, working an average of 8 hours per day, between the hours of 7am and 4.20pm (start and finish times vary with the season).

Our Requirements

• Have a passion for growing plants.
• Interest in all aspects of horticulture and the work of Chester Zoo
• Studying for, or have completed, a Horticulture or plant science related course at miniumum Level 2 NVQ, HND or above. In some cases, students from other related courses (e.g. Zoology or Geography) will be considered
• Able to work and communicate effectively within a team as well as well as on your own initiative.
• Ability to financially support yourself for the entire length of the placement.

Please note: This is a physical role that involves outdoor working in all weather conditions. It will also involve heavy lifting, operating machinery and being on your feet for long periods.

There are limited number of placements that may provide the opportunity to combine your work placement with a 'sandwich year' at University, if this is something you are looking for, please specify this on your application form. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation and encourage applications from all backgrounds. You may be able to apply for a small number of bursaries of up to £4,000 available to support those who may face significant financial barriers to their studies, research and career development.

Interested in applying?
To apply for this opportunity, click the 'apply for job' button on this page where you'll need to complete on online application form, and upload your CV and cover letter highlighting your skills and why you believe you should be considered for this Plants Voluntary Work Placement.
Applications from individuals living outside of the UK are welcome, but you will be expected to fund your own travel and relocation costs if successful.

More about us...
Chester Zoo is a major wildlife charity that's committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we're making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it's needed most. We are Chester Zoo, and we prevent extinction.