Botanical Horticulture

Job Description – Botanical Horticulture Studentship Job Description for the post of Botanical Horticulture Student at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses.

Management of the Post The post holder will be under the management of the Head Gardener. Day-to-day supervision of the trainee will normally be carried out by the Area Supervisors.

Duties of the Post holder under the close supervision of a more senior member of staff The post holder will spend two months in each of six areas of the Botanic Garden: Display Glass, Nursery, Temperate, Hardy Temperate, Alpine & Hort. Office (Plant Records & Plant Sales). Regular Duties (i.e. daily or weekly) may include assisting with the following: • General horticultural maintenance including sweeping and cleaning. • Raising new plants from seeds, cuttings or other propagules. • Watering and weeding the nursery, glasshouses and grounds. • Planting trees and shrubs and their ongoing pruning and care. • Planting herbaceous plants, deadheading and clearance of borders. • Mowing grass with a variety of equipment. • Chipping plant material. • Machinery use (including start checks and documentation of usage). • Ad-hoc and organised litter collection. • Reporting of any hazards to Area Supervisor or where necessary other management. • Working in the Plant sales area as part of the Botanical Gardens Enterprise Team Intermittent Duties (i.e. monthly or annual) may include: • Cleaning ponds, bird enclosures and other structures and areas as required. • Feeding birds. • Weed burning of paths, strimming and hedgecutting. • Working weekend duties including allocated time in Plant Sales. • Working on Winter work programme projects away from the normal area of work. • Involvement in special projects assisting Area Supervisors or as a Student Body. • Involvement in Garden Events. Other Activities: • Students are obliged to take part in all activities scheduled on the Student Training Programme in line with the demands of the Training Contract. • Any other duties commensurate with a non-supervisory role.

C:\Users\SERVUS_ADMIN_01\Desktop\Botanical Horticulture.doc