Lead Community Gardener (Freelance)

| Invisible Palace

Location: Crystal Palace Park / Anerley Hill, South London

Contract: Freelance – Contract to May 2028 (subject to 4-month probation)

Hours: Approximately 200 hours per year

Pay: £25 per hour

Closing date: 31 March 2026

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Job Description

About the Organisation

Invisible Palace is a charity that creates accessible and welcoming activities where people come together through arts, heritage and green spaces. Their work focuses on creating practical, hands on experiences that bring communities together through shared interests and learning by doing.

Since 2018, volunteers have been caring for flower beds and community planting spaces around Crystal Palace Park, including the entrance gardens at Anerley Hill and nearby planting areas. The organisation is now looking for a Lead Community Gardener to help develop and support this volunteer-led gardening programme.

About the Role

The Lead Community Gardener will lead weekly volunteer gardening sessions and help maintain community planting areas around the Crystal Palace Park entrance.

The role combines practical horticulture, volunteer leadership and community engagement, helping people of all backgrounds take part in gardening activities and learn new skills.

Sessions are primarily held on Fridays, running weekly during spring and summer and fortnightly during autumn and winter.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and lead weekly volunteer gardening sessions
• Support volunteers working on flower beds and community planting areas
• Organise and lead monthly sessions for specific groups such as families, disabled adults and people with English as a second language
• Manage volunteer communication and attendance records
• Ensure health and safety procedures are followed during sessions
• Manage gardening tools and equipment safely
• Work closely with the Community Support Gardener and Charity Director
• Support volunteer engagement activities including garden visits and a plant sale event each year
• Maintain planting areas to a high standard in a busy public park environment

Working Pattern

• 4 hours per week for 40 weeks per year
  
  • 3 hours on-site gardening
  • 1 hour administration
• 12 additional afternoon sessions per year (3 hours each)

Sessions run weekly in spring and summer, fortnightly in autumn and winter, with a short break during December/January  .

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• At least 2 years’ experience working as a gardener, particularly with herbaceous borders or similar planting
• Knowledge of sustainable planting and biodiversity
• Experience working in public-facing spaces or community settings
• Experience leading groups or facilitating activities
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and abilities
• Understanding of health & safety and safeguarding in community settings

Desirable:

• Garden or landscape design experience
• Seasonal planting planning
• Experience delivering community gardening projects
• Knowledge of working with park stakeholders
• Based locally to Crystal Palace or South London

Training & Development

Invisible Palace is open to supporting relevant training and professional development for the successful candidate.

How To Apply

To apply, please send:

• A CV
• A short email outlining your relevant experience and how it relates to the role

Email: info@invisiblepalace.org.uk

Subject line: Lead Community Gardener

For an informal conversation about the role, contact:

sue.giovanni@invisiblepalace.org.uk

020 8064 2723