Heritage an Botanical Gardens Training Programme

HBGTP Notifications

Applications are now closed. The next opportunity to apply to become a HBGTP trainee will be March 2025, for a September 2025 start.

If you would like to receive a notification when applications are open then please sign up below.

You can also find out lots more about the programme by visiting our Traineeship Information page or by downloading our handbook here.

Become a 2025 Placement Garden

We are now accepting placement garden applications for traineeships commencing in September 2025.

Each year we look for prestigious historic and botanic gardens to join us in hosting a HBGTP trainee. If you are interested, please click the button below to read our placement provider criteria.

A bursary of over £8,500 towards the cost of a trainee salary is offered to eligible gardens.

Applications must be submitted by the 1st December 2024.

Become a Placement Garden

Newgardens announced

2024 Placement Gardens

We are happy to announce that the gardens offering placements from September 2024 will be as follows:

Aldourie Castle
Audley End House and Gardens (English Heritage)
Cambo Gardens
Chatsworth
Fulham Palace House and Garden
Hatfield House
Helmingham Hall Gardens
Holkham Estate
Newby Hall
Osborne (English Heritage)
Picton Castle and Gardens
Walmer Castle and Gardens (English Heritage)
Winterbourne House and Garden
Wrest Park (English Heritage)

Find out more about our placement gardens

The Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme began in 2006, with an aim to ensure that the skills needed to work in a historic or botanic garden were passed on to those passionate and committed to a career in horticulture.

The Programme:

The HBGTP provides full-time paid work (minimum of national living wage) as a trainee gardener in a UK historic or botanic garden, placements last 12 months and start in September each year.
Specialist on-the-tools training is combined with written projects, plant idents and a daily journal.
You can apply from the start of March 2025, via this website. Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to apply but must be able to demonstrate some prior paid or voluntary experience working in the horticulture sector.

Trainee Experience Watch

HBG Training Programme at Trentham

HBG Training Programme at Osborne

Find out more