Gardens Experience Placements
Age 18 + candidates JUNE to September 2026
(Placements will be a minimum of two months / maximum of three)
The Bedford Estates are offering a unique opportunity to gain voluntary Work experience alongside their award winning gardens team and their award-winning Custodian in Horticulture Gardens Manager.
We have two exciting placement opportunities available assisting primarily within the Woburn Abbey gardens, with scope to assist within other areas of The Estate; such as the Woburn Safari Park animal enclosures and foot safari areas, Woburn Golf Club amenity areas, the Woburn Hotel grounds, Woburn Village High Street and London estate (Bloomsbury).
The placements will require you to be hands on assisting with a wide range of horticultural tasks gaining valuable experience from our knowledgeable team, assisting with onsite events, i.e. the Garden Show. You may also be given the
opportunity to manage and deliver a small project.
In return for the time and effort you will invest into your placement and the high
standards you will achieve, we will provide you with:
• Invaluable hands on work-based experience within a unique environment
• Weekly mentor meetings with a Head Gardener or The Estates Gardens
Manager
• A report detailing your contribution and a written reference (subject to
standards of delivery) which can be used to support future job applications
• Accommodation, in the gardeners bothy house at no cost
• your weekly food shopping (capped amount)
Martin Towsey mtowsey@woburnabbey.co.uk