Springhead is a rural centre, located in historic buildings in 15 acres of gardens and grounds in beautiful North Dorset countryside. Our mission is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to experience and value the rural environment, and to learn about the sustainable use of natural resources; as well as to conserve the buildings and gardens as a special place for education, enjoyment of the arts, music and rural culture.

We are seeking a co-ordinator for our new Productive Gardens project at an exciting time in our development. Having recently acquired the freehold of the Springhead property, its buildings and land including ornamental and potential productive gardens, the Trust is now in a position to expand our services. Through the productive gardens project, we will give more children and local people the chance to get involved in growing and eating organic produce. There will be four main strands to the project:

• Growing and harvesting produce including vegetables from the kitchen gardens, fruit from the orchards, and wild food, to prepare in Springhead’s kitchen for the benefit of visitors including catered school groups
• An educational programme to provide opportunities for involvement of local schools, and develop activities and resources for residential groups
• Opportunities for involvement of the local community, for example through provision of a community growing area, closer links with the local school, volunteering and events
• Developing Springhead’s role in showcasing sustainable living, for example by organic food production, the promotion of biodiversity, and the use of renewable energy

The salary is £16,224 for 3 days a week (on average) for one year initially. For more information, a job description, person specification and details of how to apply go to www.springheadtrust.org.uk/2019/11/productive-gardens-project-co-ordinator-vacancy

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 16 December, and interviews will be held at Springhead on 14 January 2020