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 Senior Gardener to join our team at Kenwood. Kenwood is set on 112 acres of wonderful green parkland on Hampstead Heath. It's listed designed landscape was the vision of Humphrey Repton in the 1790's.Some features include a pasture ground which neighbors the SSSI ancient woodland, ponds and open meadows. Smaller themed garden areas entice our many visitors to walk around the estate to enjoy shows of rhododendrons, woodland plantings, an old kitchen garden now planted with mixed herbaceous borders, and ornamental plantings around the cafe terrace designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd. We also have a compost area on site to recycle as much garden waste as possible. Kenwood is a real oasis in busy London
This is a full-time role working 36 hours per week, core Monday through Friday 8:00 - 4:15.
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.
The role is for Monday to Friday 8 am til 4:15 pm
Benefits include:
- Comprehensive training and CPD
- The opportunity to progress your career
- 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
- 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%
Our Senior Gardeners work closely with our gardener, Supervisor and Head Gardener. You will play a vital role in ensuring that all work carried out in our gardens by our fantastic teams of gardeners and volunteers is to the highest of standards. You will find imaginative ways of bringing to life the stories that our gardens tell, helping visitors of all ages to make new discoveries.
You will have a high-quality garden experience, be experienced with hedge trimmers, strimmers, tractor driving,use of Gators and basic maintenance of these items of garden machinery. It's essential you have great skills in pruning woody species, have a high-quality of garden experience ideally including a proven track record in ornamental gardens & herbaceous border care and interest in meadow conservation. Ideally, experienced with use of chainsaw. Stepping away from the ornamental areas at Kenwood, your regular tasks will also require your leadership skills in operating volunteer session to manage invasive species by hand or with hand machinery across site,protecting ancient and veteran trees and maintaining the SSSI woods and sphagnum bog- home to rare species.Excellent plant knowledge and horticultural skills are essential.
You will get to use and develop your organization skills and input into the seasonal work plans. It is an engaging role. Use of data base and computer programs such as Word and Excel.
You will already have excellent plant knowledge and horticultural skills to lead and train staff and our volunteers.
You'll enhance our visitors day out from sharing your gardening knowledge, to ensuring their health and safety. Being able to ensure smooth running of weekly job rotas and input into the seasonal work plans are also a must for this busy and engaging role.
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/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 Program and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.
No agencies please.
In person interviews will be September 1 & 2 at Kenwood, NW3 7JR
Closing date: 24/08/2026 23:59:59
