At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain Bristol's parks and green spaces while leading a team of volunteers.
- Company: Join a dedicated Parks Service team committed to enhancing local green spaces.
- Benefits: Flexible shifts, weekly pay, and holiday accrual.
- Other info: Great opportunity for hands-on work and career development in environmental conservation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while enjoying the outdoors.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Temporary Tree Water 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 Tree Water 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.
Tree Water Gardener-Parks services in Bristol employer: The Berkeley Scott Group
Join our dedicated team as a Tree Water Gardener in Bristol, where you will enjoy the flexibility of temporary assignments while contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of the city's beautiful parks and green spaces. We foster a supportive work culture that values teamwork and personal growth, offering opportunities to lead and mentor volunteers and apprentices, all while working outdoors in a vibrant community setting. With competitive pay and the chance to engage in diverse horticultural tasks, this role is perfect for those seeking meaningful employment in environmental conservation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Tree Water Gardener-Parks services in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the parks and green spaces in Bristol! Familiarise yourself with the different sites where you might be working. This will not only help you feel more confident but also show your potential employers that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees of the Parks Service on LinkedIn or at local events. They can provide insider tips and maybe even put in a good word for you when you apply through our website.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your horticultural skills! If you’ve got experience, great! If not, consider volunteering or taking a short course. Showing that you’re proactive about improving your skills can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready for hands-on tasks during interviews! You might be asked to demonstrate your skills or knowledge on the spot. Practise common grounds maintenance tasks so you can showcase your abilities confidently when it counts.
We think you need these skills to ace Tree Water Gardener-Parks services in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in horticulture and grounds maintenance. We want to see how your skills match the role of Tree Water Gardener, so don’t hold back on showcasing your expertise!
Show Off Your Team Spirit:Since this role involves working with a team and supervising others, let us know about your teamwork experiences. Share examples of how you've led or supported volunteers and apprentices in the past—this will really help you stand out!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your passion for parks and green spaces shines through in your words.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details 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 knowledge of advanced horticultural tasks, especially those mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your experience with planting, pruning, and maintaining fine turf. This shows you’re not just familiar with the basics but can handle the specific demands of the role.
✨Safety First!
Make sure you understand health and safety protocols related to grounds maintenance. Be prepared to talk about your experience with risk assessments and safe working methods. This will demonstrate that you take safety seriously, which is crucial for this hands-on role.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Since the role involves supervising and developing 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 to show you can contribute positively to the Parks Service.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect some practical questions or scenarios during the interview. They might ask how you would handle specific maintenance tasks or deal with issues like littering or anti-social behaviour. Prepare by thinking through your problem-solving strategies and how you would apply them in real situations.
