Ness Botanic Gardens

Ness Botanic Gardens is part of the University of Liverpool. Covering 64 acres, there are stunning views across the Dee estuary to North Wales.

The gardens feature a variety of planted areas, including a rock garden, kitchen garden, woodland gardens, Mediterranean garden and herbaceous borders. There are Alpine and Arid Plant glasshouses.

The gardens were founded in 1898 by Arthur Bulley. Today – as a university botanic garden – there is an emphasis on education, research and conservation.

As a trainee at Ness, you will have the opportunity to work across the garden with the team, and to use a wide range of hand-held and ride-on machinery. There will also be opportunities to support University activity on main campus in Liverpool. Working in a botanic garden, you will develop your plant knowledge and have opportunities to learn about plant record management using IrisBG, and you will have access to our library. You will have the opportunity to study towards an RHS Level 2 or 3 qualification.

Placement opportunity: 1 year

Staff numbers: A garden team of ten staff; 90 garden volunteers; 20 plant collection volunteers.

Ease of access: Neston railway station is 8 minutes’ drive away, or 18 minutes by bus. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 1 hour’s drive away.

Accommodation: No dedicated accommodation available.