Furzey Gardens Nursery Instructor
Furzey Gardens Nursery Instructor
New Forest Day Opportunities
Location: Furzey Gardens, Minstead
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Days: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Salary: £26,539 per annum
Advert Closing date: 27 May 2026*
* Please note that although a closing date is in place, we will be reviewing applications and interviewing on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.
Do you love working outdoors, growing plants, and making a real difference in people’s lives?
We are looking for a passionate and creative Plant Nursery Instructor to take the lead in the Nursery at Furzey Gardens. This is more than a horticulture role, it’s an opportunity to support people with learning disabilities and/or autism to develop skills, confidence, and independence through meaningful, hands-on work in a thriving plant nursery.
You’ll lead engaging, person-centred sessions supporting individuals to grow plants from seed to sale, helping create a real working environment where everyone can contribute and feel a sense of achievement. Alongside nurturing plants, you’ll be nurturing people, supporting them to learn new skills, build their confidence and flourish.
About the role:
You’ll take a lead role in the day‑to‑day running of our nursery, overseeing plant production from seed and plugs through to sale. Working alongside the people we support, you’ll create a calm, purposeful and person‑centred environment that reflects a real working nursery while adapting activities to meet individual needs and abilities.
Key Responsibilities
Creating meaningful, person‑centred opportunities:
- Work alongside people we support to maintain and develop the nursery within Furzey Gardens.
- Plan and deliver structured yet flexible sessions covering all stages of plant production, including compost making, seed sowing, pricking out, potting on, watering and plant care.
- Adapt activities to different communication styles, preferences and support needs.
- Support individuals to develop horticultural skills, confidence, independence and a sense of achievement.
- Encourage participation in preparing and selling plants, including appropriate customer interaction.
Leading a purposeful working environment:
- Take responsibility for the daily organisation and smooth running of the nursery.
- Order seeds and plug plants in line with an agreed planting plan.
- Work with seasonal growing cycles to ensure plants are high-quality and ready for sale.
- Contribute to income generation through plant production and sales.
- Maintain high standards of presentation across the nursery.
Wellbeing, safety and positive risk‑taking:
- Create a safe, supportive environment where people feel valued and secure.
- Ensure safe use of tools, equipment and materials.
- Carry out ongoing risk assessments that support positive risk‑taking and meaningful participation.
- Be attentive to individual wellbeing, adapting approaches when needed.
Working together:
- Work closely with the Furzey Head Gardeners to ensure a joined‑up approach.
- Take part in supervision and reflective practice with the Day Opportunities Manager or Deputy.
- Provide guidance to volunteers and 1:1 support staff.
- Build positive relationships with families, carers and professionals.
About you:
Essential
- Confidence leading activities to groups of adults with learning disabilities.
- Practical horticulture experience in a garden or nursery environment.
- A calm, patient and inclusive approach.
- Strong teamwork and communication skills.
Desirable
- At least 1 year’s experience working alongside adults with a learning disability.
- An interest in social enterprise, sustainability or community gardening.
Why join us?
- Work in a beautiful, purpose‑driven garden setting
- Make a genuine difference to people’s lives every day
- Be part of a supportive, values‑led charity
- Opportunities for training and development
What benefits can we offer you?
- 25 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays
- Refer-a-Friend scheme worth £750!
- A Celebration Day’s Leave for Your Birthday pro rata
- Death in Service Insurance
- Company Pension
- An easy to access Health Care Scheme
- Cycle to Work
- Free Parking on-site
- Blue Light Card Eligibility
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
- Company Sick Pay
We are not licensed to sponsor employees for visas; therefore, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. You need to have, or be able to obtain, right to work in the UK in order to take up this position.
All staff working for, or on behalf of Minstead Trust, understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding adults at risk and know who to escalate concerns to within Minstead Trust.
Due to the nature of this employment, your application is subject to a successful Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).
No terminology in the advert you have seen is intended to discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation, and we will gladly accept applications from all sections of the community.