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- Tasks: Lead a vibrant garden, manage volunteers, and run engaging workshops.
- Company: Horatio’s Garden is a charity creating beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive team, training opportunities, and the chance to shape a unique garden.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on patients' lives while nurturing your passion for gardening and sustainability.
- Qualifications: RHS Level 2 or equivalent experience, leadership skills, and a love for plants and people.
- Other info: Flexible hours, including weekends, with a focus on eco-friendly practices.
The predicted salary is between 18900 - 22050 £ per year.
Salary: £31,500 FTE
Location: The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
Contract type/ hours: Permanent, 3 days a week, to include 4 hours one weekend afternoon every other week
Closing date: 22 June 2025
We’re looking for a talented, enthusiastic Gardener to join our team at Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville to help nurture and develop one of the region’s most exciting and ambitious hospital gardens, designed by Joe Swift. This isn’t just a maintenance role — it’s your chance to lead a garden that changes lives by providing a sanctuary for patients, visitors, and staff alike.
Horatio’s Garden is a nationwide charity which creates and nurtures beautifully designed gardens in NHS’s spinal injury centres. The Gardener will be responsible for managing and caring for the garden and supporting the patients who use it. You will run a thriving, vibrant sanctuary which meets the needs of the charity’s beneficiaries.
What You’ll Do
- Lead & Inspire: Manage a dedicated team of gardening volunteers, sharing your knowledge, passion, and creativity to nurture both people and plants.
- Design & Curate: Work closely with the designer Joe Swift and the Director of Gardens to evolve the garden with flair, sustainability, and seasonal drama.
- Cultivate Excellence: Ensure everything flourishes to the highest horticultural standards.
- Champion Sustainability: Be a driving force in eco-conscious gardening, water management, and biodiversity initiatives.
- Educate & Engage: Run workshops, host garden tours, and mentor the next generation of horticultural talent with a WRAGS trainee.
This role is a fantastic opportunity for a confident, experienced gardener with an interest in gardens and wellbeing, and a passion for people as well as plants. If you think you would thrive with us, we want to hear from you.
Who You Are
Essential:
- A seasoned horticulturalist with RHS Level 2 qualification or equivalent hands-on experience
- Proven leadership skills with a knack for team development and motivating others
- A creative thinker with a strong eye for design and planting combinations
- Passionate about sustainability and ecological best practices
- A brilliant communicator with the ability to foster positive working relationships
Desirable:
- RHS Level 3 Horticultural qualification
- Experienced in delivering horticultural therapy or workshops
- A professional and confident public speaker, with the ability to lead garden tours and talks
- Proven experience of recruiting and training volunteers
- Great IT skills, specifically proficient with Microsoft Office 365 – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Qualities:
- Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities
- Empathetic and kind
- Self-motivated and capable of working with the minimum of direction but understanding the limits of your knowledge and able to seek advice when required
- Able to meet the physical demands of the role
What We Offer:
- The chance to lead one of the region’s most talked-about gardens
- A talented, supportive team who love what they do
- Access to training, workshops, and horticultural events
- Opportunity to shape and evolve a garden that tells a story
As a Charity we are committed to creating and promoting a culture that protects and preserves the welfare of the vulnerable people in our care. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining and evaluating information from and about candidates including criminal record checks, to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work for our Charity.
Application: Please write a one page covering letter, explaining why you would be suited to this role and send this along with your CV to kath.moss@horatiosgarden.org.uk
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all sectors of society.
NOTE: DBS, medical and reference checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process.
Contact Detail:
Horatio's Garden Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden - Stoke Mandeville
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Horatio's Garden and its mission. Understanding the charity's focus on creating therapeutic spaces for patients will help you convey your passion for both gardening and wellbeing during any discussions or interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed teams or volunteers in previous roles. Highlighting your ability to inspire and develop others will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your creative ideas for garden design and sustainability practices. Think about innovative projects you've implemented in the past that align with the role's emphasis on eco-conscious gardening.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to demonstrate your communication skills. Since the role involves running workshops and leading tours, think of ways to showcase your public speaking experience and how you engage audiences effectively.
We think you need these skills to ace Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden - Stoke Mandeville
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Gardener position. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a one-page cover letter that showcases your passion for gardening, leadership skills, and commitment to sustainability. Use specific examples from your experience to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable qualities listed in the job description.
Tailor Your CV: Ensure your CV is up-to-date and tailored to the Gardener position. Emphasise your horticultural qualifications, relevant experience, and any leadership roles you've held. Make sure to include your RHS Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience prominently.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread both your cover letter and CV for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Horatio's Garden
✨Show Your Passion for Gardening
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for gardening and how it can positively impact people's lives. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight your connection to plants and nature, especially in a therapeutic context.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or mentored others in previous roles. Highlight your ability to inspire and motivate volunteers, as this is crucial for the Gardener position at Horatio's Garden.
✨Discuss Sustainability Initiatives
Be ready to talk about your knowledge and experience with eco-friendly gardening practices. Discuss any specific projects you've been involved in that promote sustainability, biodiversity, or water management.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Remember that interviews are a two-way street. Prepare thoughtful questions about the garden's vision, the team dynamics, and how you can contribute to the charity's mission. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
