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 Arlington Court. 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.  

On the edge of Exmoor, a short distance from the coast and only six miles from Barnstaple, Arlington Court is one of Britain’s best kept secrets. At the heart of the estate is a house with an eclectic collection including masses of model ships, piles of pewter and museum room of the last owner’s collectables. The stables now house the National Trust’s Carriage Collection. The 35-acre Grade II* listed garden offers wide range of horticultural skills and working environments. The formal Victorian Flower Garden with conservatory and fully productive Walled Kitchen Garden with glasshouse and nursery are set a little way from the house while the Picturesque pleasure grounds of trees, shrubs merge into the Park and wider countryside of steep sided, wooded valleys with rushing streams. It is a place of contrast and variety.

For more information about our property please visit arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum

You'll be helping to keep the gardenin tiptop condition every day. This might involve daily checks to make sure all areas are safe for people visiting, routine tasks such as seasonal maintenance of herbaceous, shrub, and tender perennial borders, seasonal bedding displays, lawn care, machinery use and maintenance (electric and petrol), nursery work and propagation, indoor ornamental displays, fruit, vegetable and cut flower production, pruning of top and soft fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and green waste processing and compost production.

You’ll also help lead our team of garden volunteers and junior garden staff and support and help them to make the most of their time here. You’ll be expected to interact with the public on a daily basis, answering the many questions, or help out with gardening workshops, tours and helping set up events when needed.

As part of this role you’ll be required to work regular weekends and bank holidays as part of a garden-team rota.

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)

• Tax-free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• 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

• Independent financial advice

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