At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain Bristol's parks and green spaces while delivering high standards of horticultural care.
- Company: Join a dedicated team enhancing the beauty of Bristol's outdoor spaces.
- Benefits: Flexible shifts, weekly pay, and holiday accrual.
- Other info: Opportunity to lead volunteers and develop practical skills in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while enjoying the great outdoors.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Temporary Gardener (Parks Service) – BG7
Location: Bristol (various parks & green spaces across the city)
Salary: Bristol Grade BG7 (rate dependent on assignment/experience)
Contract: Temporary Assignment (flexible/ongoing shifts)
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Gardener (Parks Service) to support Bristol’s parks and green spaces team on a temporary basis. You’ll work across a variety of sites—destination parks, formal and informal green spaces, sports areas, woodlands and nature conservation sites—helping deliver high standards of grounds maintenance and horticultural care in all weather conditions. This is a hands-on role for someone who can confidently carry out advanced horticultural tasks, operate equipment safely, and support a team environment—while also helping supervise and develop apprentices, volunteers and temporary staff when required.
Key Responsibilities
- Carry out a wide range of grounds maintenance tasks safely using light/heavy equipment, plant and tools.
- Deliver advanced horticultural work including planting (ornamental bedding), pruning and related tasks.
- Maintain fine turf (e.g., bowling greens/golf courses/cricket wickets) and complete general grass cutting/maintenance.
- Support sports grounds maintenance, including marking out, setting up and dismantling equipment.
- Undertake chemical weed control, spraying and control of invasive species (where authorised).
- Complete practical conservation & habitat management (scrub control, woodland/hedgerow/meadow/riparian management).
- Keep sites clean and safe: litter picking, bin emptying and maintaining paths/hard standings.
- Carry out inclement weather duties.
- Perform small repairs to park features.
- Help lead and instruct volunteers, ensuring work is completed safely and to specification (may include weekends).
- Support the delivery of events in green spaces, assisting with materials/equipment and build/break to minimise site damage.
- Where required, support colleagues with issues such as littering/dog fouling/anti-social behaviour and the application of parks byelaws.
Requirements
- Essential: NVQ Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture / Environmental Conservation (or equivalent, e.g., City & Guilds / National Certificate), OR equivalent multi-season practical experience in grounds maintenance/horticulture/nature conservation.
- Strong working knowledge of Health & Safety, including risk assessments and safe working methods.
- Proven experience completing a full range of maintenance tasks using equipment, plant and tools safely.
- Physically able to meet role demands (walking, kneeling, driving, lifting).
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision and also as part of a team.
- Comfortable using touchscreen technology (smartphone/tablet) and willing to learn new apps/tech.
- Full UK driving licence and ability to drive a range of parks vehicles/plant (as required).
- Good communication/customer care skills when dealing with residents, customers and volunteers.
- Willing and able to work outdoors year-round and weekends when requested.
- Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Evidence of innovative/analytical problem-solving.
- Ability to write basic reports and handle straightforward calculations.
- Experience leading volunteers in practical grounds maintenance work.
- Experience supporting enforcement activity relating to byelaws/anti-social behaviour issues.
What We Offer
- Flexible temporary assignment with the potential for ongoing shifts.
- Opportunity to work across a wide range of Bristol’s parks, green spaces and conservation sites.
- Weekly pay and holiday accrual.
Gardener-Parks services in Bristol employer: The Berkeley Scott Group
Contact Detail:
The Berkeley Scott Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Gardener-Parks services in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend local gardening events or community meet-ups in Bristol. Chat with fellow gardeners and park service staff; you never know who might have a lead on a temporary role or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of your gardening work, bring it along to interviews or networking events. Pictures of your past projects can really help you stand out and show what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply and wait! Follow up on your applications. A quick email or call to check in shows your enthusiasm and keeps you on their radar. Plus, it gives you a chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Use our website to find opportunities! We regularly post temporary roles that might be perfect for you. Keep an eye on it and apply directly through us to streamline your job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Gardener-Parks services in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your relevant experience in horticulture and grounds maintenance. We want to see how you've tackled similar tasks before, so don’t hold back on those details!
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to read through the job description and tailor your application to match. Use the same language and keywords that we’ve used, as it shows you understand what we're looking for and how you fit into the role.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid fluff and get straight to the good stuff about your skills and experiences. This helps us see your potential quickly!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Berkeley Scott Group
✨Know Your Horticulture
Brush up on your horticultural knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific techniques you've used in grounds maintenance, like advanced planting or turf management. This shows you’re not just experienced but also passionate about the role.
✨Safety First!
Familiarise yourself with health and safety regulations relevant to gardening and grounds maintenance. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve implemented safe working methods in past roles. This will demonstrate your commitment to safety and responsibility.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Since this role involves supervising apprentices and volunteers, think of examples where you’ve successfully led a team or worked collaboratively. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve handled challenges in a team setting.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect some practical questions or scenarios related to the job. They might ask how you would handle a specific maintenance task or deal with an issue like littering. Think through your problem-solving strategies and be ready to share your thought process.