Gardener

English Heritage Ltd; Great Witley; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A heritage charity is seeking a passionate Gardener to maintain the historic gardens at Witley Court. This role requires horticultural skills and a commitment to high standards, with responsibilities including garden maintenance and working with a team of volunteers. Candidates should hold at least an NVQ level 2 in amenity horticulture and possess good plant knowledge. The position is full-time, with opportunities for career progression and other beneficial perks including training, flexible hours, and discounts.

Benefits

Comprehensive training and CPD

Flexible hours

Free access to English Heritage sites

25 days' holiday

Matched pension contributions up to 10%

Qualifications

• Experience in a high-quality horticultural establishment.
• Ability to work to high standards both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to engage with social media platforms.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and present the gardens to high standards.
• Work with colleagues and volunteers in the garden team.
• Contribute to the restoration and reinstatement of gardens.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Horticultural skills

Mechanical/technical experience

Education

NVQ level 2 standard in amenity horticulture

Job description

Title Gardener Location Witley Court, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT Salary £23,896 p.a. / 36 Hours per week / Permanent Job type Permanent Ref 16248

Would you like to work for the charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England?

With 14 main garden sites and dedicated garden teams, we are looking for a Gardener to join our team at Witley Court & Gardens. This is a full‑time role working 36 hours per week.

Witley Court and Gardens are a very special and beautiful space - one of the few remaining early Victorian formal gardens designed by William Nesfield, which wrap around the romantic ruin of what was once one of England's finest grand country houses. We are looking for enthusiastic gardeners with a passion for history and curated landscapes to help us deliver our ambitious plans to continue the restoration and reinstatement of Nesfield's 'Monster Work' while delivering the highest possible horticultural standards across the site to our visitors.

Reporting into the Gardens Supervisor and Head Gardener, the role requires you to apply your horticultural skills and experience across the whole site, working with colleagues in the garden team and with our dedicated and passionate team of volunteers. Our gardeners are all skilled to work with a wide range of horticultural equipment and vehicles, so we are looking for some mechanical/technical experience in addition to good plant knowledge - training will be provided for any tickets not already held. The site is varied, ranging from maintaining the crisp precision of the formal gardens right through to the more relaxed woodlands, copses and wildflower meadows.

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

Benefits

• Comprehensive training and CPD
• The opportunity to progress your career
• Flexible hours
• Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
• Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members
• 25% discount in our shops and cafes
• Corporate subscription / memberships to gardening organisations
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
\
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays pro rata rising to 28 days after 3 years
• Options to buy additional leave
• Matched pension contributions up to 10%

As a Gardener, you'll play a vital role in ensuring our gardens are well maintained and presented wonderful places to spend time in. You'll contribute to bringing to life the stories that our gardens tell, helping visitors of all ages make new discoveries. You will be qualified to at least NVQ level 2 standard in amenity horticulture and have previous experience of working in a high-quality horticultural establishment. You will work to high standards and be effective and efficient when working on your own or as part of the wider team. A willingness to help engage with our social media platforms is also desired as we bring the story of Witley's continued growth and development to as wide an audience as possible.

Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Mark Pardey, Head Gardener on [e-mail]; 07502 908957 No agencies please.

Interviews will be held at Witley Court in early February 2026.

You will need to refer to the following documents when completing your application.