We'd love to hear from you if you’re: an enthusiastic horticulturist and hands-on gardener, who’s worked with hard landscaping before knowledgeable about plants, with a great eye for detail. experienced with machinery, including tractors, chainsaws, rotary and cylinder mowers, and with some knowledge of maintenance a driver with a full licence able to manage a demanding outdoor role good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people equally confident working within a team, with volunteers or on your own able to keep to time, plan and meet deadlines GardenerWith its 14 acres of gardens, moated mansion, and wider estate reflecting 700 years of history, along with our friendly, dedicated teams, it’s easy to see why visitors, volunteers, and staff love Ightham Mote. The variety of formal, informal, woodland, and semi-natural garden areas, along with water features, will offer you challenges and help develop your abilities across a wide range of skills.Reporting to the Garden & Outdoors Manager and Senior Gardener, you’ll be part of a lively team of five staff, as well as our groups of volunteers, working to conserve, develop, and care for the gardens and surroundings, while putting visitors and nature at the heart of all we do. We’re a busy team who enjoy a challenge and work at a fast pace. We collaborate with the wider property teams to get the job done and are keen to share knowledge and ideas. We aim to inspire our visitors by delivering high standards, creating great experiences, and engaging them in conversations about our conservation work for the garden and nature.Click here to learn more about this locationYou'll love working outside and lead our volunteers to keep the garden in tip-top condition every day. This may involve daily checks to ensure all areas are safe for our visitors, as well as routine tasks such as weeding, pruning, mulching, caring for plants, and using machinery such as lawnmowers, hedge cutters, leaf blowers, garden vehicles, and tractors.Other duties might include propagation, growing and cutting flowers for the house, or cultivating fruit and vegetables in the walled garden, preparing plants for sale, and carrying out soft and hard landscaping, garden design, and restoration work. You may also be involved in composting, managing waste and recycling, as well as supporting other teams and helping to prepare and deliver property events.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.• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)• Rental deposit loan scheme• Season ticket loan• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.• Flexible working whenever possible• Employee assistance programme• Free parking at most Trust places Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you. Closing Date: 7th June 2026 To apply for this vacancy simply click the 'apply' button in the top right hand side of the page.If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at recruitmentenquiries@nationaltrust.org.ukIf you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at adjustments@nationaltrustjobs.org.uk and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.Equal Opportunities Statement The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here. Safeguarding Statement The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre. Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early and therefore we encourage you to apply for this position early. 176280IRC176280SevenoaksFixed Term f/t or p/t (37.5 hrs pw to 29/07/27)Ends: Jun 7th 57 mi from BasingstokeAs a Gardener for the National Trust, you’ll be a hands-on member of the garden team, involved in every aspect of gardening. Responsible for day-to-day maintenance, and the highest standards of horticulture, you’ll also play a vital role in improving the experience of visitors to the garden and wider estate. This fixed term role is a great opportunity to practice and develop your gardening experience and skills with our team, managing an interesting variety of garden areas in the beautiful and tranquil setting of Ightham Mote. Salary: £27,612 per annum Contract Duration: This is a fixed term contract due to end when the postholder returns to the role. At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it is unlikely to last beyond 29th July 2027.Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. You may be asked to work occasional weekends, bank holidays and evenings. Interview Date: Friday 12th June Provisional Start Date: Thursday 16th July Please apply for this role with your CV. Job-sharing may also be considered to cover the hours of this role, so please make your preference for full-time or job-sharing clear in your application.Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NTCompliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK27,612 pa