Job Description

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should forward their Curriculum Vitae (CV) an Application Form to the People Department, The National Trust for Scotland, by email via workforus@nts.org.uk, by Friday 28th November 2025.

Please ensure your CV includes your full name and contact details The CV file sent to us should be titled with your first initial and surname When submitting your CV please state the position and job location of the vacancy you are applying for in the subject title or body of your email: For example "First Gardener - Inverewe"

JOB PURPOSE

Under the leadership of the Head Gardener, this role manages the delivery of Inverewe Gardens' shelterbelt management plan - a subset of the property's overall Garden Heritage Plan. It is a hands-on role, delivering practical arboriculture and horticulture within woodland settings across the property, whilst leading a small team of gardeners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Understand, develop, and deliver Inverewe's shelterbelt management plan, including (but not limited to):

o General care of trees and their understory, such as trimming/lopping, felling, planting, invasive non-native species removal, pest and disease control;

o Undertaking tree inspections and remedial actions to promote tree health and maintain a safe woodland garden environment;

o General care, maintenance, and development of planted borders and clearings within the woodland garden;

o Managing soil health - including appropriate composting;

o Managing and developing the property's bio-char approach, for both internal use, and as a commercial product;

o Liaising with Inverewe's Propagator to ensure an appropriate nursery of replacement trees, and implementing agreed planting/re-planting plans, or opportunist planting;

o Liaising with Inverewe's Ranger over the recording, monitoring, and maintenance of the shelterbelt as an important habitat;

o Outreach and education in the form of guided tours, talks/lectures, community engagement events.

Supervise the team of gardeners and volunteers assigned to woodland garden and shelterbelt work, ensuring that they are motivated, trained, developed, and deliver their duties to the required standard.

Manage any delegated budget in the optimal way, taking a "best value" approach without overspending.

Manage health & safety for the woodland garden and shelterbelt activities, including (but not limited to):

o Undertaking and recording general and specific risk assessments for areas of the woodland garden and shelterbelt activities to mitigate hazards and risks;

o Undertaking and recording routine and ad hoc tree inspections, and any remedial works;

o Servicing of tools and equipment (including PPE) according to manufacturer's recommendations, and logging their use;

o Appropriate storage, issuing, and COSHH assessment of chemical agents used in the woodland setting;

o Advising - and if necessary, taking decisions on - the closure of parts of the garden or the garden as a whole in situations such as high winds/storms to ensure the safety of colleagues and visitors.

As required "stand in" for the Head Gardener or First Gardener (Ornamental) to ensure complete garden management/supervisory coverage (in times of e.g. sickness absence, annual leave).

As required by the Head Gardener, help with gardening activity in any part of the garden.

As required, as a senior member of the Inverewe management team, contribute to the Property's overall operations and development.

As required by the Operations Manager, support tree/woodland work at Corrieshalloch Gorge.

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 29,957.00-33,095.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 28/11/2025