Horticultural Facilitator

Wilderness Foundation UK is seeking a part-time Horticultural Facilitator for maternity cover, working 14 hours weekly in Braintree and Chelmsford. The role involves maintaining community gardens, supporting vulnerable adults through therapeutic horticulture, and promoting health and wellbeing. Candidates should have experience with vulnerable populations and a background in horticulture or related fields. The position includes both outdoor and administrative work, allowing for some remote flexibility.
Job title: Horticultural Facilitator Location: Wilderness Foundation UK, Chelmsford CM1 2ES and Braintree CM7 9DZ Hours: 0900-1600 on Tuesday and Thursday (14 hours per week) Salary: £14-16 per hour Contract Type: Part Time Fixed Term Contract Contract Period: 5/11/2024 – 13/11/2025 (54 weeks)

About Wilderness Foundation UK

Established in South Africa in 1956, the Wilderness Foundation has taken 40,000 people into the wild. Based at Chatham Green in Essex, the Wilderness Foundation reaches in the region of over 8000 children, young people and adults per year.

The purpose of the Foundation is to prepare and educate for the future. We believe that nature and wild spaces are of incalculable value not just to maintain biodiversity and wildlife but for human wellbeing. All our projects and programmes have the same basis – to connect people to nature for wellbeing benefits, mental, spiritual and physical – and to teach people in turn to care for nature into the future by teaching Leave no Trace Ethics, respect and understanding of our impact on a web of life.

About the role of Maternity Cover for Horticultural Facilitator

Maintain and promote the allotments and community garden for the use of gardening, plants, and horticulture to help individuals develop personally and socially, gaining confidence, independence and a sense of wellbeing. You will plan work with vulnerable adults from different backgrounds and abilities. This role is for cover until the Horticultural Facilitator returns from maternity leave.

· Work outdoor at our 6 plots of community allotments in Melbourne Estate and Braintree Community Garden in Braintree, in addition to administration work from the office or home.

· Work with small groups or with individuals to support their mental health via therapeutic horticulture programmes.

· Help groups or individuals to develop across physical, cognitive, social and emotional spectrums.

· Promote health and wellbeing by providing outdoor activity and physical exercise in a supportive atmosphere.

· Introduce horticultural tasks such as sowing seeds, setting out plants, planting out, lawn mowing, soil preparation and pruning to improve individuals’ social and practical horticulture skills.

· Interact with individuals to develop confidence and self-esteem in their work.

· Liaise with external statutory and voluntary services to provide a multidisciplinary, person-centred approach to support individuals mental health.

· Liaise with other professionals, such as social workers and psychologists.

· Monitor individuals’ achievements, evaluate and report the effectiveness of horticultural therapy.

· Promote gardening and horticulture to the public, as part of Green Care, the conceptual framework of using other natural mediums for therapy.

Preferred Person Specification

· Experience in working with vulnerable people including SEND

· Background in a horticulture discipline or extensive voluntary experience in horticultural activities.

· Degree or HND in plant science/biology, education, horticulture, landscape architecture/design, occupational therapy, social work or psychology etc. preferred

· Strong interest in and aptitude for horticulture.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills

· Aptitude for leadership and for collaborative working.

· Ability to motivate and encourage others.

· Patience, understanding, tolerance and the ability to work with a range of people.

· Analytical skills and the ability to make accurate assessments.

· Capacity to use your initiative and work independently.

· Love nature and believe in the same ethos as the Charity’s.

· Passionate about supporting vulnerable people and the environment.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential for this role.

This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure check and reference check

How to apply

Please submit your CV to [email protected] : Rolling applic

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