Gardener

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 Chartwell. 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. 

There will be an expectation that you will work weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis.

You’ll be reporting to Garden & Outdoors Manager/Assistant Head Gardener, working in a team of 5 gardeners and 47 volunteers. Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home and the place from which Sir Winston drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The house and garden remain the same as when the Churchill family lived at Chartwell and today it is our job to share the stories of their lives here as well as care for this much-loved home and their cherished possessions. The team at Chartwell ensure that visitors have a great time at this property, and create events to delve further into the life of Sir Winston Churchill. Click here for more information about this location

In this role you'll be joining a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team of like-minded, passionate gardeners who ensure the highest presentation standards are displayed to our visitors at all times. You'll work alongside them in the day-to-day running of the gardens and supervising a group of loyal and skilled volunteers all of whom ensure the highest horticultural standards are maintained at all times. You'll work throughout all areas of the garden and lead with the planning, care, and development of your own specific areas.

Throughout the seasons you'll join the team in managing a variety of tasks from growing produce to maintaining lawns. You'll also support senior members of the team with environmental compliance and operational risk within the gardens at Chartwell and assist with the delivery of pre-planned tasks stated in our garden management plan which will require restoring borders, maintaining water cascades, and developing behind-the-scenes areas for future public access. As well as these projects there is the day-to-day cyclical work which includes anything from annual rose pruning, hedge maintenance, plant propagation and orchard management.

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 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.