Work with us

Job Title: Trustee, The Beth Chatto Education Trust

January 2025

About Us

The Beth Chatto Education Trust is dedicated to promoting sustainable gardening, fostering environmental awareness, and nurturing a deep appreciation for the natural world. Inspired by Beth Chatto’s pioneering vision of 'right plant, right place,' we aim to educate, inspire, and empower gardeners of all ages. Our educational programs, workshops and community initiatives are designed to make gardening accessible, sustainable and rewarding for all.

Role Overview

We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Trustee to join our Board and help steer the Trust’s vision, governance and strategic direction. As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in ensuring our mission aligns with Beth Chatto’s legacy while embracing new opportunities to expand our reach and impact. This is a unique opportunity for someone deeply committed to environmental education, sustainable gardening and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and oversight of our strategy, ensuring that it aligns with our mission and values.
• Support our fundraising, partnerships and advocacy efforts, helping us expand our educational programs and outreach.
• Attend quarterly Board meetings and participate in occasional events or workshops.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust, bringing expertise, insight and connections to support our growth and sustainability.
• Collaborate with other Trustees and the management team to ensure robust governance and financial health.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who shares our passion for environmental sustainability and education. Ideally, you’ll have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Environmental or educational non-profits
• Sustainable gardening or horticulture
• Fundraising and partnership development
• Financial management or legal expertise
• Community engagement and advocacy

What You’ll Bring

• A genuine enthusiasm for the Beth Chatto Education Trust’s mission and values.
• Strategic thinking with an openness to innovation and new ideas.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with fellow Trustees and represent the Trust publicly.
• A commitment to dedicating your time, skills and knowledge to make a positive impact.

Commitment

This is a voluntary role and the time commitment is flexible, with an expectation of attending quarterly meetings and offering additional support as needed. Trustees serve a term of three years, with the possibility of renewal.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected educational charity with a meaningful impact on gardening and environmental education. Join us to inspire the next generation of gardeners, foster sustainable practices and honour Beth Chatto’s enduring legacy.

How to Apply

To express your interest, please send a CV and a short statement (no more than 500 words) to BCET@bethchatto.co.uk outlining why you’re interested in the role and what you would bring to the Beth Chatto Education Trust.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity thrives.

Closing date for applications is end of day on Monday 31^st March 2025.

———

Job Description

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT – GROWING to join our busy and hardworking Plants Team and E-commerce Team.

Seasonal position

35 hours per week.

Working Monday – Friday (8.30-4.00pm incl. 30-minute unpaid lunch break),

Friday (8.30-3.00pm incl. 30-minute unpaid lunch break) with occasional weekend working as

and when required.

Hourly Rate depending on age and experience – Paid Monthly

Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens, began by our founder Beth Chatto as a private garden in 1960. Beth went on to win 10 consecutive Gold Medals at Chelsea Flower Show and was the author of 8 horticultural books, 7 of which remain in print.  Her beloved garden perfectly showcases Beth’s ecological and sustainable ethos of right plant, right place along with her distinctive design based on Japanese flower arranging principles of Ike Bana.  Beth passed away in 2018, her family and the amazing team within the business now continue her work.  We cherish her world renowned 7acre garden and throughout the year welcome 40,000 + visitors from around the world to take inspiration and learning from it.  In addition, we manage a further 7 acres of Nursery and Stock Beds where we produce upward of 180,000 plants a year across over 2,000 varieties – many of which are expertly propagated directly from plants within the garden and are hard (or impossible) to find elsewhere. These are sold both online and onsite in our large Nursery.

We aim to be a centre of horticultural excellence and have within the last 2 years received awards for our visitor experience (Visit England Gold Award) and were nominated by the readers as Which Best online Plant and Bulb supplier.

Candidate Profile

• A focused individual with drive, ambition and a “can do” attitude who will contribute to building the business.
• An outdoors person with a positive attitude towards this physically demanding job.
• A passion for Horticulture and sustainable, ecological planting.
• Able to work as part of a small team and at times on your own initiative.
• Enjoy working as part of a team that executes on and off-site Plant events and shows.
• Good IT skills essential.
• Readiness to learn.
• Horticulture knowledge is an advantage.

Job Specification

Working as part of the production team focusing on the e-commerce and production area’s, reporting to the Production Manager.

The role will include:

Key Responsibilities

• Picking orders for the e-commerce.
• Potting cuttings and seedlings
• Packing orders for the e-commerce orders.
• Progressing potted plants from the growing stage, through to making them available for sale, ensuring the quality is high and the stock locations are accurate.
• Ensuring that available plants in the standoff areas are kept to a high and healthy standard and suitable to sell online and the nursery.
• Ensuring that all growing and stand-off areas are kept clean, tidy, and as safe as possible.

Applications in writing, or email, in the form of a CV and covering letter including details of previous working experience to:

Email applications to annie@bethchatto.co.uk

Annie-Rose Smith (Production Dept) The Beth Chatto Gardens Ltd, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB. 

Interview date to be confirmed.

Potential start date Monday 3^rd March 2025.

Position subject to a three-month probationary period.

 ----------

Job Description

SEASONAL ONLINE PACKING ASSISTANT to join our busy and hard-working Packhouse team

Seasonal position with the chance of extending to a permanent contract.

35 hours per week.

Working Monday – Friday (8.30-4.00pm incl. 30-minute unpaid lunch break),

Friday (8.30-4.00pm incl. 30-minute unpaid lunch break) with occasional weekend working as

and when required.

Hourly Rate £££

Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens, began by our founder Beth Chatto as a private garden in 1960. Beth went on to win 10 consecutive Gold Medals at Chelsea Flower Show and was the author of 8 horticultural books, 7 of which remain in print.  Her beloved garden perfectly showcases Beth’s ecological and sustainable ethos of right plant, right place along with her distinctive design based on Japanese flower arranging principles of Ike Bana.  Beth passed away in 2018, her family and the amazing team within the business now continue her work.  We cherish her world renowned 7acre garden and throughout the year welcome 40,000 + visitors from around the world to take inspiration and learning from it.  In addition, we manage a further 7 acres of Nursery and Stock Beds where we produce upward of 180,000 plants a year across over 2,000 varieties – many of which are expertly propagated directly from plants within the garden and are hard (or impossible) to find elsewhere. These are sold both online and onsite in our large Nursery.

We aim to be a centre of horticultural excellence and have within the last 2 years received awards for our visitor experience (Visit England Gold Award) and were nominated by the readers as Which Best online Plant and Bulb supplier.

Candidate Profile

• A focused individual with drive, ambition and a “can do” attitude who will contribute to building the business.
• An outdoors person with a positive attitude towards this physically demanding job.
• A passion for Horticulture and sustainable, ecological planting.
• Able to work as part of a small team and at times on your own initiative.
• Good people skills
• Enjoy working as part of a team that executes on and off-site Plant events and shows.
• Good IT skills essential.
• Readiness to learn.
• Horticulture knowledge is an advantage.
• Willingness to help other departments when needed.

Job Specification

Working as part of the online department focusing on online orders and making sure they are kept up to date, reporting to the production manager.

The role will include:

Key Responsibilities

• Picking plants from the stand-off and nursery areas.
• Packing plants making sure they are secure and off a high standard.
• Making sure orders are kept up to date.
• Looking after ‘forward orders’ making sure they go out when expected.
• Keeping an eye on pack material stock levels and liaise with the buyer when needing more.
• Making sure the packhouse is kept clean and tidy.

Please be aware that you may have to wait for the courier if they are running late.

Applications in writing, or email, in the form of a CV and covering letter including details of previous working experience to:

Email applications to annie@bethchatto.co.uk

Annie-Rose Smith (Production Dept) The Beth Chatto Gardens Ltd, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB. 

Interview date to be confirmed.

Potential start date Monday 3^rd March 2025.

Position subject to a three-month probationary period.

-------------

None at present