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Sissinghurst Gardens Scholarship - Cranbrook

Employer
The National Trust
Location
Cranbrook, Kent
Salary
25,662 pa
Closing date
6 Jul 2022

Job Details

Sissinghurst Gardens Scholarship - Cranbrook

Summary

Are you looking to develop your career in horticulture with the potential to become a future Head Gardener at the National Trust? We have a unique opportunity for an 18-month Scholarship placement starting in September 2022 here at our beautiful Sissinghurst Castle Garden. This is an amazing opportunity to learn and grow your existing skills whilst gaining a practical insight into how the garden is managed throughout the seasons.

The scholar will have the opportunity to travel and work in some of our great gardens in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and internationally, including time at Chanticleer, Filoli and Giverny. You'll attend public lectures, courses, and symposiums and be exposed to experts in the world of horticulture from growers to designers and the best of craft gardeners across the country.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden has been a foundation of horticultural learning for decades. As one of the leading international gardens, we aim to foster an informal yet highly credible training environment to nurture and develop leaders, ambassadors, and future head gardeners within the National Trust.

Subsidised accommodation is available alongside a salary of £25,662 pa.



What it's like to work here

Sissinghurst is a refuge dedicated to beauty. It has grown and crumbled many times over the Centuries, but in 1930 Vita Sackville -West with her husband Harold Nicolson rescued it and created amongst the ruins one of the world’s most iconic and romantic gardens. Today, 60 years after Vita’s death we continue to be inspired by her gardening and the deeply embedded emotion and intimacy of the place. Our gardening in turn continues to bring together those traditions of beauty and romance. 

  

Click here for more information about this location



What you'll be doing

Scholarship placements will commence in September 2022 and will run for 18 months. Learning will be focused on the traditions and practises used by Vita Sackville-West and her husband, Harold Nicolson at Sissinghurst under the tuition of our Head Gardener, Troy Scott Smith, and his team.

The principles of the Scholarship are:

  • Nurturing excellence in gardeners
  • A flexible approach to learning
  • A practical hands-on experience
  • A focus on craft and the art of gardening

In addition, Scholars will experience all aspects of the organisation, spending time with key people in all departments from marketing to fundraising, and from curators to rangers.

Please see the additional candidate pack for more information. 



Who we're looking for

We're looking for exceptional individuals with RHS level 2 who have the desire and talent to go on and be leaders within the National Trust as Head Gardeners at one of our significant gardens. Horticultural experience is important, but crucially we are looking for an individual with the right attitude and drive to succeed. We want someone who thinks of gardening beyond horticulture and plants and has an eye for detail, design, beauty and an understanding of collaborative working across the multi-disciplinary conservation charity of the National Trust.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

  • Flexible working whenever possible
  • Free parking at most locations
  • Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
  • Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

Company

The National Trust is committed to promoting and preserving those places of natural beauty and historic interest for which it has the privilege to be responsible for the benefit of the nation, for everyone for ever.

The Trust is proud of what has been achieved over the last 126 years and is determined to maintain those high standards of conservation, stewardship and curatorial care for which it has been recognised throughout the world.

Its achievements have enabled the general public and the Trust’s members and visitors to enjoy and appreciate the countryside, coastline, gardens, historic buildings and collections, all of which encapsulate so much of the history of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is a duty to tell that history in a complete, balanced and accurate way, and without judgement.

The National Trust continues as a guardian of the past, and for the future, to uphold its duty to maintain and enhance what has been entrusted to its care.

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