Senior Gardener

National Trust Group; SHREWSBURY; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization is seeking a Senior Gardener at Attingham Park, Shrewsbury. The role involves supervising daily garden management, training staff, and ensuring a pleasant experience for visitors. Ideal candidates will have extensive horticultural experience, strong team supervision skills, and knowledge of plant care and machinery use. This position offers a range of perks including a substantial pension scheme, free access to National Trust properties, and additional holiday leave.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Free access to National Trust properties

Holiday allowance

Perks at work discounts

EV car lease scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in practical horticulture and plant care.
• Confidence in team supervision and volunteer support.
• Ability to engage with visitors and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day garden management.
• Train new staff and volunteers.
• Maintain plant collection in optimal condition.

Skills

Practical horticulture experience

Team supervision

Machinery use

Visitor engagement

Health and safety knowledge

Education

Horticulture qualification

Tools

Chainsaws

Tractors

Hedge-trimmers

Mowers

Job description

In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

Are you an experienced gardener, now ready to discover a new garden and take on a new challenge? This might be just the role for you. If you’re a dedicated and enthusiastic horticulturist, who's keen to make a difference, then we can offer you invaluable experience and development within one of the National Trust’s much loved historic gardens at Attingham Park.

What it's like to work here

Attingham welcomes more than half a million visitors a year. Make no mistake, this is a busy and thriving place to be that is full of life and locally loved. The National Trust team here today conserve and care for the estate carrying on the legacy of the eighth Lord and Lady Berwick who left the estate to the National Trust in 1947.

Attingham welcomes everyone - our supporters, members, and visitors are vital in helping us continue our work. Whatever your role, you’ll play your part in helping us build relationships and make connections with our regular visitors, those new to Attingham, and those yet to visit, so we can keep Attingham a special place now, and for everyone, and for ever. Attingham Park is arguably Shropshire’s greatest estate.

Built in 1785 and owned by the same family for five generation, today it is around 4,000 acres in size, and at its heart is a mansion, parkland, walled garden, play space, deer park and various food and beverage and retail outlets.

You’ll be happy working outside in all weathers. And you’ll understand why people love coming to this garden so much, and why your role is vital in making sure that they have their best possible day. An important part of your role will be supervising the day-to-day management of the garden, to keep it and the plant collection in tiptop condition. But another crucial element will be motivating the team.

As Senior Gardener, we’d like you to lead by example, lead from the front. You’ll demonstrate exceptional gardening skills, which others can follow and learn from. You’ll understand how to help the team manage their daily workload, and you’ll give inspiring and practical training to new staff and volunteers. You’ll build positive working relationships across the entire site. And you will delight in talking to people visiting the garden, telling them its story and answering their questions.

Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for Tuesday 3rd February 2026.

Who we're looking for

Applications from redeployed employees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below:

• experience in practical horticulture and plant care
• confidence in team supervision and volunteer support
• skills in machinery use and adherence to safety compliance standards
• knowledge of project and programme delivery with measurable outcomes
• understanding of resource management and budget control
• skilled in visitor and stakeholder engagement, fostering positive relationships

Additional criteria for all other applicants:

• someone who combines practical experience in horticulture with appropriate qualifications
• used to 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)
• aware of relevant health and safety legislation and practices

The package

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)
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• 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.

National Trust place

Attingham Park, Atcham, Shrewsbury, SY4 4TP

Documents

Senior Gardener - Career Level B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance. Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 25 January 2026

To apply for this vacancy simply click the 'apply' button in the top right hand side of the page.

If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at [e-mail]

If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at [e-mail] and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here .

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.

Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early and therefore we encourage you to apply for this position early.