Title: Senior GardenerLocation: Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HRSalary: From £26,671 p.a. depending on skills & experience / 36 hours per weekJob type: PermanentRef: 16383Would you like to work for the charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England?With 14 main garden sites and dedicated garden teams, we are looking for a Senior Gardener to join our team at Wrest Park. This position is to work in the Upper Gardens team. Wrest Park has a team of nine gardeners. The gardens of Wrest Park are unique, with a range of surviving garden layouts dating back to the late 17th century. Across the 90 acres of gardens, French, Dutch, Italian and English styles are showcased side by side. Highlights include the sub-tropical conservatory and a restored Rose Garden featuring modern hybrid roses, shrub roses and specimen trees. There is also a walled garden with espalier and fan-trained fruit trees.English Heritage have undertaken an extensive programme of revitalisation and have already restored key formal areas, including the rose garden, pear orchard and evergreen garden. The Italian Garden and French Parterre, also recently restored, are now a riot of colour in summer, planted up with seasonal bedding varieties which vary each year. Work will continue well into the future in the woodland gardens where rides, serpentine paths and waterways are being remodelled and replanted to restore the intimate nature of the garden compartments throughout the woodland. The whole garden contains numerous statues, lakes and other garden features such as an ornate marble fountain and a baroque pavilion. This is a full-time role working 36 hours per week.Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.Benefits include:- Comprehensive training and CPD- The opportunity to progress your career- Apprenticeship opportunities- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members- 25% discount in our shops and cafes-Corporate subscription/memberships to gardening organisations- Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave- 25 days' holiday plus Bank Holidays pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years- Options to buy additional leave- Matched pension contributions up to 10%Our Senior Gardeners work closely with our Head Gardener. You will play a vital role in ensuring that all work carried out in our gardens by our fantastic teams of gardeners and volunteers is to the highest of standards. You will find imaginative ways of bringing to life the stories that our gardens tell, helping visitors of all ages to make new discoveries.You will have high-quality garden experience in amenity horticulture, excellent plant knowledge and horticultural skills, and a talent for leadership.You'll enhance our visitors’ day out from sharing your gardening knowledge, to ensuring their health and safety. Being able to ensure the smooth running of weekly job rotas and provide input into the seasonal work plans are also a must for this busy and engaging role.Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/ Everybody’s welcome at English HeritageForget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Andrew Luke, Head Gardener andrew.luke@english-heritage.org.uk. No agencies please.Closing date: 05/04/2026 23:59:59