At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to nurture a transformative hospital garden.
- Company: Horatio's Garden Scotland, a charity creating beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres.
- Benefits: Supportive team, training opportunities, and the chance to shape a unique garden.
- Other info: Flexible role with a focus on sustainability and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by providing a sanctuary for patients and visitors.
- Qualifications: RHS Level 2 or equivalent experience, excellent plant knowledge, and volunteer management skills.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a talented, enthusiastic Gardener to join our team at Horatio’s Garden Scotland to help nurture and develop one of the region’s most exciting and ambitious hospital gardens, designed by James Alexander-Sinclair. 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. The garden has been beautifully designed and includes a water feature, a woodland area and a separate courtyard with a garden room and pods to give patients warm sheltered places to enjoy the garden in all weather. There is a glasshouse and raised beds for growing edible and ornamental plants with patients, along with a dedicated office space. Horatio’s Garden is a nationwide charity creating and nurturing 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 Director of Gardens and designer James Alexander-Sinclair to evolve the garden with flair and all year round interest.
- 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 individual and group gardening sessions for people with spinal injuries with creativity and sensitivity.
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 an RHS Level 2 qualification or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Excellent plant knowledge with experience of various propagation methods, cultivation techniques and plant health monitoring.
- Proven volunteer management skills with a knack for inspiring 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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of health and safety aspects of public gardens.
- Interest in wellbeing benefits of gardens.
Desirable:
- RHS Level 3 Horticultural qualification.
- Experienced in delivering therapeutic horticulture sessions 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.
- Experience of using social media to promote activities and events.
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.
Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden Scotland in Glasgow employer: Horatios Garden
Horatio's Garden Scotland is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead a transformative garden that serves as a sanctuary for patients and visitors alike. With a strong focus on employee growth, our supportive team fosters creativity and collaboration, while providing access to training and workshops in horticulture. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve, all within the beautifully designed surroundings of one of the region's most ambitious hospital gardens.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden Scotland in Glasgow
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like Horatios Garden.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like Horatios Garden.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at Horatios Garden; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden Scotland in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at Horatios Garden.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Gardener, Horatio\'s Garden Scotland.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what Horatios Garden is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at Horatios Garden a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at Horatios Garden
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at Horatios Garden might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
