Senior Gardener

NATIONAL TRUST; York; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the energetic garden team at the National Trust's Beningbrough Hall as a manager responsible for highly engaging horticultural practices. You will lead staff and volunteers, uphold exceptional garden presentation standards, and implement exciting new developments with a commitment to sustainability and community engagement.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme up to 10% of salary

Free entry to National Trust properties

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Workplace discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Qualifications

• Practical horticultural experience and relevant qualifications required.
• Experience supervising others in a similar role.
• Highly knowledgeable about various plant species.

Responsibilities

• Manage staff and volunteers, ensuring high standards of horticulture.
• Create activity programs and engage in hands-on horticultural work.
• Serve as Duty Manager to ensure smooth property operations.

Skills

Horticultural experience

Supervision

Knowledge of plants

Use of garden machinery

Health and safety knowledge

Tools

Chainsaws

Tractors

Hedge-trimmers

Mowers

Job description

This is a new role at Beningbrough, as the team is expanding to support new garden plans aimed at establishing the gardens as one of the great gardens of northern England. The eight-acre garden surrounds a magnificent Baroque mansion, with long-term plans to develop the hall, restaurant, shop, car park, and garden. This position offers a rare opportunity to work in a historic setting and be part of an energetic and ambitious garden team, introducing exciting contemporary designs by Andy Sturgeon. The successful candidate will play a key role in managing the team, developing new garden areas, and maintaining high standards of presentation. We seek a strong leader who can inspire and engage, thrives on change, and enjoys working outdoors.

Interview date: Wednesday, 18th June 2025

What it's like to work here

Beningbrough Hall is an 18th-century house located north of York. It attracts over 136,000 visitors annually and is open year-round, including seven days a week in summer. The estate has ambitious plans, including exhibitions in the house gallery and a long-term garden vision designed by a leading UK landscape designer. Currently, work is underway on the wilderness garden, the fourth area of the vision. Future developments include extending the restaurant and retail space and improving the car park. This is an exciting time for Beningbrough, and we are looking for an enthusiastic individual to help develop the garden into one of the great gardens of northern England.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Head Gardener and Parkland Manager, you will manage staff and volunteers, creating activity programs and working alongside them in all weather conditions. You will ensure exceptional standards of horticulture and presentation across the gardens, including the newly built Mediterranean Garden designed by Andy Sturgeon and the gardens nursery. Additionally, you will serve as a Duty Manager, helping to ensure the smooth operation of the property for visitors, and will deputize for the Head Gardener as needed.

You can view the full role profile in the attached document. You do not need to have all the listed skills and experience; it provides a comprehensive overview of the role's potential.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• Someone with practical horticultural experience and relevant qualifications
• Experienced in supervising others in a similar role
• Highly knowledgeable about plants
• Confident in using and maintaining garden machinery, including chainsaws, tractors, hedge-trimmers, and mowers (both walking and ride-on)
• Familiar with health and safety legislation and practices

The package

The National Trust’s motto is ‘For everyone, for ever’. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong. We value diversity and aim for our teams to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome and appreciate differences.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% of basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust properties for you, a guest, and your children (under 18)
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts, including gym memberships, shopping discounts, and cinema tickets
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days, with options to purchase additional days, subject to eligibility

Visit our company hub to learn about our values, culture, and latest jobs. Create a job alert to receive personalized recommendations directly to your inbox.