Trainee Gardener

Hours: 37.5 hrs a week (8am - 4.30pm, Monday-Friday).
Location: Head office is in Walworth SE17, (Kennington or Elephant & Castle Tube Stations) however this role is based mainly off site.
Salary: £27,008 (London Living Wage).
This is initially a 12 month fixed-term contract with the potential to extend.

About the Role

This role would suit someone who appreciates a very wide range of gardening work, from heavy physical work on some days to more refined and creative tasks on others. Applicants must hold a full, clean driving licence and feel comfortable driving an electric van around London.

The primary purpose of the Trainee Gardener post is to carry out physical gardening, maintenance and landscape work as a member of the Garden Services team. The Garden is a small organisation and employees are expected to be reasonably flexible so that we can meet the changing needs of all stakeholders. This might include litter picking, watering, pruning, operating the Garden’s machinery and delivering plants as required.

The post holder will report to the Site Supervisor and Team Leaders or in their absence, to the CEO and Head Gardener.

Duties specific to this role will include the following:

To carry out gardening and landscape maintenance work at various sites around London in accordance with the Garden’s contractual obligations.
To ensure that the quality of service delivered to existing clients is maintained or exceeded in accordance with the contractual obligations and timeframe allowed.
To safely drive the Garden’s vehicles and equipment to and from sites as required and if appropriate.
To carry out regular maintenance checks on the Garden’s vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment and report anything untoward to Team Leaders.
To work as part of the Garden Services team and reliably and appropriately represent Walworth Garden in the community at all times.

Full details about the role can be found in this job description and person specification.

About The Organisation

Walworth Garden’s mission is to ‘improve lives by delivering excellent learning and horticultural therapy in an award winning garden that’s open to all.’ More specifically the Garden provides, among other things:

A peaceful wildlife haven which is open 7 days a week
City & Guilds accredited horticultural training at L1 & 2 in Environmental Gardening
Gardening Therapy
A variety of workshops for adults on the subjects of health, wellbeing, and the environment
An Environmental Landscaping Company working on a wide range of projects
A plant centre for discerning gardeners, focusing on house propagated stock

We particularly welcome applications from those identifying with groups currently under-represented within horticulture.

Walworth Garden offers a generous benefits package that includes the following:

28 days annual leave exclusive of Bank Holidays
Free plant-based lunch everyday when working locally
Employee Assistance Programme
Use of vans for licenced drivers (P11D)
15% staff discount on all items for sale

Walworth Garden is committed to equality of opportunity, and values diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic candidates who are currently under-represented in the horticulture industries, as well as applications from women and LGBTQIA+ candidates.

To apply for this position please call us on 0207 582 2652 and ask for Oli, to answer a few questions about your suitability for the role.
This process is designed to be as accessible as possible.

Deadline: 9 Jan 2026, though we may close this process early should a suitable candidate be identified.