Head Gardener / Prif Arddwr

Summary

Wales is home to some of the finest gardens in the UK - the gardens at Erddig, dating from the late 17th Century, are Grade 1 registered, notable as an example of early formal garden design, set in an eighteenth-century landscape park.

The formal garden, influenced by French and Dutch garden design, was restored in the 1970’s, then the largest garden restoration project the National Trust had undertaken. The gardens have since developed and matured to be ‘one of the Jewels of Wales’ and are of international importance. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that the ‘Spirit of Place’ is enhanced, and the gardens maintained to the highest standard. This is an opportunity to showcase the pinnacle of gardening art & craft.

Accommodation is provided to the postholder for the proper or better performance of his or her duties in accordance with Trust criteria and HMRC rules

Crynodeb

Mae Cymru’n gartref i rai o’r gerddi harddaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig - mae’r gerddi yn Erddig, sy’n dyddio o ddiwedd y 17eg Ganrif, wedi’u cofrestru’n Radd 1, ac yn nodedig fel enghraifft o ddyluniad gardd ffurfiol, a leolir mewn parc tirwedd sy’n dyddio’n ôl i’r ddeunawfed ganrif.

Fe gafodd yr ardd ffurfiol, a ddylanwadwyd gan ddyluniadau gerddi Ffrengig ac Iseldiraidd, ei hadnewyddu yn y 1970’au, fel rhan o’r prosiect mwyaf a ymgymerwyd erioed gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol i adnewyddu gardd. Erbyn heddiw, mae’r gerddi wedi datblygu ac aeddfedu i greu ‘un o drysorau Cymru’ ac maent o bwys rhyngwladol. Byddwch yn gyfrifol am sicrhau bod ‘Ysbryd y Lle’ yn cael ei hybu, a bod y gerddi’n cael eu cynnal a chadw i’r safon uchaf. Mae hwn yn gyfle i arddangos y gorau o blith celf a chrefft garddio.

Darperir llety i ddeiliad y swydd ar gyfer perfformiad priodol neu well o'i ddyletswyddau yn unol â meini prawf yr Ymddiriedolaeth a rheolau CThEM

What it's like to work here

The gardens at Erddig have been providing interest for over 300 years and we continue to take an innovative approach, integrating changes in environmental and operational developments in horticulture to meet current and future targets. Building on our reputation as a progressive and adaptive historic garden, experimenting with plant propagation and productive horticultural techniques, responding to the impacts of climate change, we continue to support the principles of conservation.

More widely, you’ll be an important part of the Erddig ‘family’; developing and taking the property forward to be the ‘go to’ place to visit and supporting the portfolio to increase its visitor growth and diversity.          

Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert.

Sut brofiad yw gweithio yma

Mae’r gerddi yn Erddig wedi bod o ddiddordeb ers dros 300 o flynyddoedd, ac rydym yn parhau i weithio mewn modd arloesol, gan integreiddio newidiadau mewn garddwriaeth, o safbwynt datblygiadau amgylcheddol a gweithredol, i gyflawni targedau presennol a rhai at y dyfodol. Gan adeiladu ar ein henw fel gardd hanesyddol flaengar, sydd â’r gallu i addasu, sy’n arbrofi ym maes lluosogi planhigion a thechnegau garddwriaethol cynhyrchiol, wrth ymateb i effeithiau’r newid yn yr hinsawdd, rydym yn parhau i gefnogi egwyddorion cadwraeth.

O safbwynt ehangach, byddwch yn rhan bwysig o ‘deulu’ Erddig, wrth ddatblygu a hyrwyddo’r eiddo i fod y lleoliad gorau i ymweld ag ef, ynghyd â chefnogi’r portffolio er mwyn hybu ei dwf o safbwynt niferoedd ei ymwelwyr a’u hamrywiaeth.       

Dylech hefyd ddarllen y proffil llawn ar gyfer y rôl, sydd wedi’i atodi i’r hysbyseb hwn.

What you'll be doing

You’ll be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the 25 plus acres of garden at Erddig, liaising with colleagues across the Chirk and North East Wales portfolio. 

You’ll join and line manage an established garden team of 3 staff and some 20 volunteers, managing their workload, delivering training to new staff and volunteers and helping build and support any new and existing visiting audiences.

You’ll enable us to develop the garden in such a way that it provides continuing and renewed interest, whilst retaining the sense of place and of history.

Working in collaboration with the Visitor Experience, Visitor Welcome and Facilities teams to interact with our visitors - answering their questions, supporting gardening workshops and tours, and setting up and participating in events when needed - you’ll be a key voice within this complex operation. 

Eich gwaith

Byddwch yn gyfrifol am waith rheoli a datblygu dydd i ddydd dros 25 erw o erddi yn Erddig, gan gysylltu â chydweithwyr ar hyd a lled portffolio'r Waun a Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru.

Byddwch yn ymuno â thîm sefydledig y gerddi, o 3 aelod staff a thua 20 o wirfoddolwyr, gan weithredu fel eu rheolwr llinell, ynghyd â rheoli eu llwyth gwaith, darparu hyfforddiant i staff a gwirfoddolwyr newydd, a helpu i feithrin a chefnogi unrhyw gynulleidfaoedd newydd, neu rai sydd eisoes yn ymweld â’r gerddi.

Byddwch yn ein galluogi i ddatblygu’r ardd mewn modd sy’n ennyn diddordeb parhaus ac yn denu diddordeb o’r newydd, wrth gadw’r ymdeimlad o le a hanes.

Gan weithio ar y cyd â’r timau Profiad Ymwelwyr, Croesawu Ymwelwyr a Chyfleusterau o safbwynt rhyngweithio â’n hymwelwyr - o ran ateb eu cwestiynau, cefnogi gweithdai a theithiau garddio, a sefydlu a chwarae rhan mewn digwyddiadau pan fo angen - byddwch yn llais allweddol o fewn y gweithrediad cymhleth hwn.

Who we're looking for To be successful in this role you should be able to demonstrate the following: •trained as a professional gardener/horticulturalist to RHS Level 3 or equivalent experience, with significant practical experience, competent with the use and maintenance of garden machinery including chainsaws, tractors, hedge trimmers, pedestrian and ride on mowers.•have supervisory experience from a similar role, leadership skills, including coaching, team care, development, motivation and excellent communication.•good people skills, enabling strong relationships to be built and maintained, externally and internally.•flexible and adaptable, you will be an enabler for other teams. •an eye for artistic planting and design skill with knowledge and understanding of the conservation of historic landscapes.•experience of managing operational risk, including how to assess and manage risk effectively and knowledge of all Health and Safety and compliance requirements relevant for horticulture.•good written and verbal communication skills i