Jobs

KEY PURPOSE
To ensure that the garden and related policies of Threave Garden and Estate are managed and maintained as a nationally-recognized garden of outstanding historical and horticultural importance; contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.

The role of ‘Gardener’ as a key member of the Threave Garden team will be heavily involved in the development plans of the garden and wider designed landscape, with future projects aimed at creating gardens of international significance. Hence this post will be vital to realize this ambition of the gardens as a top visitor attraction.

CONTEXT
Threave is one of the National Trust for Scotland’s top ten most visited attractions. The garden is made up of many landscaped features and themed areas including a Secret Garden, Rock Garden, Sculpture Garden, a variety of different water features, Azalea walk and heather beds, a one-acre traditional working walled kitchen garden, orchard, large nursery with new glasshouse facilities, extensive woodland garden and broad variety of themed beds and borders planted with a large and diverse collection of plants. Threave provides a perfect location for the Trust’s School of Heritage Gardening, offering a wide variety of horticultural experience in both traditional and modern gardening techniques. Open all year round, the garden provides interest throughout the year.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
1. Undertaking – Garden practical maintenance of the garden / walled garden (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; staking, plant nutrition, composting and soil improvement. Walled Garden – Sowing/growing and harvesting vegetables, pruning of fruit, weeding, planting and maintaining all areas, to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of staff and public, and enjoyment by visitors including other professionals in the horticultural industry;
2. Fostering positive relationships with local communities and organisations and promote the work of the Trust.
3. On occasion, supervising and working with volunteers and/or staff members to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities;
4. Demonstrating self motivation, organizing, planning, and prioritizing and good time management;
5. Undertaking such other reasonable duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Head Gardener.
6. Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.

The current duties of this job do require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management
 Not a line manager but will, on occasion, supervise students, volunteers and staff under instructions from Head Gardener/First Gardener;
 Will work closely with other property colleagues, and will have some interaction with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments (e.g. other NTS gardens)
 Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public and guests of all ages and abilities.

Application Deadline: Friday 19/08/2022