Horticulture, Conservation & Site Lead

Hours: 24 hours Tuesday – Friday (can be flexible)
Pay: £18 per hour

As Site Manager, you will lead the day-to-day management of Lindengate’s site, overseeing horticulture, conservation, biodiversity, visitor experience and safety to ensure the gardens and landscape remain a welcoming, biodiverse space that supports mental, physical and social wellbeing. You will plan and deliver seasonal horticultural and conservation programmes, manage and inspire staff and volunteers, lead key biodiversity projects, ensure high standards of health and safety, support wellbeing programme delivery, contribute to income generation and events, and work collaboratively across the charity to maintain and enhance the site in line with Lindengate’s mission and values.

Person Specification

Essential

• Higher-level horticultural or conservation qualifications (e.g., RHS Level 2-3, Countryside Management, Ecology).
• Strong horticultural knowledge, including food growing. Used to working with no dig methods and best organic growing practices.
• Conservation expertise required and a clear ability to demonstrate skills base practically, including experience in ecological surveys and creating habitats, dead hedging, wildlife monitoring or habitat assessments. Experience in ecological surveying/recording, biodiversity management and ideally working with local record centres/partner organisations.
• Experience in land management, preferably across different ecosystems (e.g., meadows, woodland, wetlands, ponds).
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and site safety management, assessment and reporting.
• Experience working with volunteers or community groups.
• Ability to support wellbeing-focused sessions and adapt tasks inclusively.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to Lindengate’s mission of supporting mental, physical and social wellbeing through nature.
• Ability to work outdoors in all conditions year-round.
• Excellent IT skills.

Full job description can be found on our website.

Closing date: Friday 30th January, with interviews w/c 2nd February.

More about Lindengate:

Lindengate is a mental health charity that supports children and adults of all ages with their mental, physical, and social wellbeing through nature-based activities. Guided by our principle “Let’s all grow together,” we provide tailored support that fosters confidence, resilience, and life skills, helping people grow, connect, and thrive. Through Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH), Lindengate offers vital support to those living with mental health needs, many of whom receive no financial help. We run weekly programmes and short courses. We also work with local schools in Bucks, NHS, carers, welcome positive partnerships with other charities and provisions and offer sessions for children who find traditional school environments challenging. Our aim is to welcome the wide and diverse community across the county. Each week, around 120 volunteers and corporate groups join our staff supporting the gardens, site, woodwork activities, and/or programmes. In 2025 we welcomed over 3789 beneficiaries. Many people from our programmes return as volunteers, staying connected while building confidence and preparing for work or wider community life.

Our six-acre award-winning site, once a neglected allotment, is now a thriving sanctuary with sensory and apothecary gardens, wildflower meadows, vegetable plots, ponds, orchards, woodland areas, and quiet places for reflection. From Wednesday to Saturday afternoons, we welcome the public to Lindengate to enjoy the gardens. Conservation and sustainability are central to our work: we partner with Buckinghamshire Council to grow rare Black Poplar trees, follow no-dig methods for organic vegetables, produce our own honey and compost, and capture rainwater to help sustain our ponds and wildlife and do not use pesticides on our growing areas.