Seasonal Horticulturists Vacancies
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is looking for Seasonal Horticulturists to join the Horticulture team.
The Gardens are in a period of change and have recently secured a Round 1 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant towards a £13m capital project. The project aims to restore the historic glasshouses, upgrade site infrastructure and displays and improve the visitor experience for all.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city. The Gardens look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.
ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Opened in 1832, Birmingham Botanical Gardens (registered charity number 528981) is one of just two independent charitable botanical gardens in the UK.
Spread across 15 acres, just one mile from Birmingham City Centre, BBG consists of over 7,000 formally documented plants, making it the largest and most diverse botanic collection in central England.
BBG’s heritage is woven into Birmingham’s history – once the most important manufacturing town in the world – and the site welcomes over 180,000 visitors each year.
As well as the gardens, which are a green sanctuary within the city, the charity also provides a unique educational resource for learning about plants, conservation, and the environment. We welcome visits from nurseries, schools, and colleges, as well as organised groups, and run adult courses and workshops in photography, nature, wildlife, heritage, and culture.
As an independent charity, we rely on the support of visitors, supporters, donors, and grants, as well as generating income from our trading arm, hosting weddings and special events. This support ensures that we can deliver our key charitable objectives, maintaining our Victorian glasshouses and our 15-acres of wonderful gardens, and developing educational projects for the Birmingham community.
A diverse botanical world that enhances all our lives: our mission is to support plant biodiversity and an understanding of its importance to the natural environment through conservation, education, engagement, and enjoyment.
ROLE PURPOSE
We are seeking motivated, seasonal horticulturists to look after The Gardens in the busy summer season. You will be working within a small team of horticulturists to maintain our 15-acre historical garden and glasshouses to a high standard. Tasks will be instructed by Senior Horticulturists and some work will be with volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity for an early career horticulturist to gain experience of working in a grade II listed landscape in the centre of Birmingham. Entails weekend working, including watering duties within the glasshouses.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Job Summary/Key Responsibilities
- To ensure that seasonal horticultural tasks are conducted across the 15-acre, grade II listed landscape and botanical gardens and glasshouses.
- To follow the direction of Line Managers.
- To ensure that all horticultural essential tasks are covered seven days a week, including watering & feeding in the glasshouse, nurseries, and pertinent external planting schemes.
- To be able to undertake lawn management, use horticultural machinery, herbaceous and woody border maintenance, pruning to standard as instructed by line management.
- To work at pace, alongside volunteers/other staff members and independently.
- To work in line with risk assessments and COSHH assessments.
- Regular weekend duty work on a rota with all other horticulturists.
Glasshouse and nursery cover
- Taking daily temperature checks and responding.
- Watering, feeding and spraying glasshouse and nursery areas in agreement with Line management.
- Integrated pest management.
- Propagation, potting and cultivation of a range of plants.
- Weeding and pruning.
- Opening and closing glasshouses, reporting maintenance issues in a timely manner.
External areas
- General maintenance of displays including weeding, mulching, pruning, planting.
- Lawn care: Mowing, repair, sowing including use of ride on mower.
- Hedge care and cutting.
- Risk management: monitoring paths and blowing accordingly, and other risks on site arising from living collections.
Contract Type: 8 week temporary role.
Summer hours: 7am – 3.45pm.
Working a shift pattern of Monday – Friday or Wednesday – Sunday.
Salary: Real living wage rates apply.
Please click here to download the PDF for further details and person specification.
To apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
Please note that candidates meeting the essential criteria will be offered interviews undertaken weeks commencing Monday 10th July, until the post is filled.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city. The Gardens look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.