We are looking for an experienced horticulturist to run the RSPB’s flagship wildlife garden at historic Flatford.

The RSPB's Flatford Wildlife Garden is now 10 years old. The RSPB established this garden to inspire and teach people to garden for wildlife in their own spaces. The collective area of gardens in the UK is more than 6 times the area of all of the RSPB’s nature reserves put together, and therefore has great potential for struggling wildlife such as bees and other pollinators, declining birds such as song thrush and dunnock, amphibians, hedgehogs and so many other creatures running out of habitat in the wider landscape.

The opportunity to run this garden, which receives over 50,000 visitors every year, is the opportunity to make a real difference for wildlife by opening people’s eyes to what they are able to do to help. The role is for 3 days per week, one of which will need to specifically be Thursday.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified and experienced horticulturist with a background of working in gardens open to the public.
• Experience of leading a small team of gardeners and estate workers (volunteer management, in this case).
• A good communicator, able to lead and inspire with their enthusiasm and knowledge of gardening for wildlife in a popular visitor site.
• A sound understanding of ecological principles, and how best to nurture a healthy ecosystem in a garden environment, ideally with really good plant knowledge, including that of plants good for wildlife.
• Experience of H&S and Risk Assessment in a visitor environment.
• Being a great team player, you’ll also be able to prioritise work effectively and be capable of working under your own steam.
• Clean, manual driving licence valid in the UK.

Desirable criteria:

• Estate management experience, i.e. repairs and maintenance of paths, fences, visitor spaces etc.
• Brushcutter and/or chainsaw NPTC qualifications. In winter this post will also contribute to the reserves team’s habitat management work.
• Experience of having helped to develop and increase income streams in a public garden setting.
• Demonstrable interest in / knowledge of natural history.
• Biological survey experience – birds and/or other wildlife.
• Experience of plant propagation.
• Experience of designing planting plans.
• Can tow a trailer & licenced to do so.