Overview

(Permanent, full-time post)

The Brantwood Trust are recruiting for an experienced Senior Estate Worker to join our small team on an historic estate on the shores of Coniston Water, Cumbria on a full-time, permanent basis. This role would suit someone with at least 3 years practical experience in publicly accessible historic gardens and estates.

Brantwood is John Ruskin’s former home, now a museum surrounded by an exceptionally biodiverse 250 acre estate comprising of shoreline, ornamental gardens with specialist horticultural areas, native planting, woodland gardens, farmland, semi-natural ancient woodland, heath, and fell with documented nationally rare species of both flora and fauna. Applicants for this vacancy should have demonstrable experience in a range of areas. The successful candidate needs to be physically fit in order to manage the steep, uneven terrain as the garden and estate stretch from shoreline to fell-top on a steep incline.

Brantwood aims to be as creative and sustainable as possible, including maintaining the grounds as an ecologically complete cycle e.g. working with our Forester and using our recent ecological report to ensure healthy, biodiverse and sustainable woodlands; using the timber from our land to create items for use on site; and working towards excellent biodiverse land management with our tenant farmer. A willingness to work in sympathy with natural processes is essential. Brantwood is predominantly organic with exceptions made for invasive plants and select other occasions. The Senior Estate Worker will also be involved in, sometimes leading, essential estate infrastructure projects.

Gardens and managed historic landscape make up around 40 acres of the total acreage. The gardens and estate teams frequently work together to ensure an enjoyable visitor experience, contributing to a high aesthetic standard in both the gardens and wider estate. Suitable candidates will be keen to learn about Ruskin, the gardens, the house and the estate.

We encourage applicants with ecological and creative enthusiasm and a strong desire to work at Brantwood.

Essential:

  • Practical experience of land management e.g. forestry operations, fencing, walling, water course management etc.
  • Practical experience of hard landscaping e.g. garden features and paths.
  • Good understanding of environmental best practice
  • Good knowledge of native species & biodiversity, both flora and fauna.
  • Experience of invasive species management
  • PA1 & PA6 or willingness to obtain
  • Experience of working with woodland and estate management plans
  • Good knowledge of health and safety regulations and experience of producing H&S documents e.g. Risk Assessments, COSHH, tree safety surveys etc
  • Chainsaw qualifications and experience
  • Experience of using tractors on slopes
  • Experience of petrol and battery powered machinery use e.g. long-reach hedge-trimmer, shredder, strimmer etc
  • Experience of tool and machinery maintenance
  • Experience of managing staff and volunteers
  • First Aid qualifications or willingness to obtain
  • Enthusiasm to learn about John Ruskin

Desirable:

  • Experience of extracting timber.
  • Professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters or another relevant professional body
  • External relationship management e.g. tenant farmer, gamekeepers, contractors, special interest groups.
  • Interest in John Ruskin and Art/History/Social Justice/Geology
  • Flora or Fauna specialism e.g. aquatic life, ferns, invertebrates, habitat monitoring, heath and bog plants, game keeping, red squirrels, birds, ancient trees etc.
  • Experience of countryside and woodland crafts e.g. riven fencing, charcoal making, hedge laying, hurdle making, bodging, bracken thatching, firewood.
  • Experience of writing woodland/estate management plans
  • Qualifications e.g. PA6AW, PA6INJ, PA6MC, PA6PP
  • Certified in ‘Tractor Driving on Slopes’
  • Experience of applying for agricultural grants
  • Fabrication skills e.g. metalwork, carpentry, stone work
  • Experience of leading on visitor route maintenance
  • Willingness to contribute to interpretation and visitor engagement
  • Willingness and ability to work with the public/children/groups
  • Experience of infrastructure projects e.g. major utilities works, new infrastructure layouts etc.

Brantwood is rurally located with the closest bus stop a brisk walk away, as such we encourage non-driving applicants to carefully consider their ability to access this location at all times of year, in all weathers.

Brantwood is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.

This role is offered PAYE at £20,000 to £24,000 per annum, depending on experience, for a 40hr week.

Standard workdays are negotiable (e.g. Mon-Fri) but must be between 8.30am – 5pm, occasional days outside of your normal hours may be necessary.

The Brantwood Trust participates in the Government Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme

Annual Leave entitlement is 28 days holiday per annum (including Bank Holidays).

The post is permanent subject to successful completion of a 6 month probationary period.

This role may be offered as a job-share, please state your interest in this in your cover letter.

Due to the uniqueness of our estate, the interview must be conducted in person, at Brantwood. We anticipate interviewing on Monday 18th October 2021. Please state whether you are able to attend on this date in your cover letter.

Applications are to comprise of a CV and a detailed cover letter stating how you meet the essential and desirable criteria and why you are interested in working at Brantwood.

Please direct applications and questions to Bethan Pettitt, Head Gardener, at bethan@brantwood.org.uk

Deadline for applications: 12pm (midday) Monday 4th October 2021