Garden Education Officer - Hereford, United Kingdom - Growing Local CIC

Description

Opportunity for a GARDEN EDUCATION OFFICER at the new Growing Local

Gardens in Hereford
We are offering a fantastic opportunity for an Education Officer to join our newly expanding not for profit organisation.

The postholder will deliver a varied programme of childrens, youth, schools, family and adult garden educational workshops, sessions and events at the Growing Local Gardens.

This is a new post and the postholder will lead an important role in assisting in the design and setting up our new community educational garden.

The educational garden forms part of the development of The Southside Project transforming 35 acres of green space on the edge of Hereford into a vibrant community destination with sports pitches, market gardens and a community hub learning space.

The project is funded by Hereford's Stronger Towns Fund.

If you have prior teaching experience, a passion for gardening and horticulture and an enthusiasm to work with people of all ages of the community to nurture a love for growing then please do get in touch.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Educational Garden forms part of the Growing Local Gardens Project that will include a CSA community market garden, orchards and a community hub building featuring a field to fork cook school and teaching space, community cafe and affordable farm shop.

The educational garden will be sited within our newly acquired 18 acre site.

The site has a superb south/southeast aspect and looks out to rural Herefordshire, yet is situated on the edge of the city of Hereford at the end of a well used cycle and pedestrian pathway, The Great Western Way.

The educational garden will be circa 1600 sq meters and will house 2 small polytunnels, garden sheds, a field shelter and basic field kitchen, a selection of interesting vegetable beds and work areas and vibrant visuals, interactive displays and signage.

The garden will begin development in the summer of 2023 once the new education officer is in place. We have funding for the set up of the garden.

Growing Local CIC was established in 2009 to connect the local community with the land and offers a range of land, gardening and food based education.

Until recently it operated a veg box scheme and a children's educational garden on a local farm and continues to work with children, families and adults on food education and community cook events.

The acquisition of this new site is an exciting and dynamic expansion of the organisation.

Growing Local aspire to champion a collaborative work culture of mutual responsibility, trust, sharing of skills and the facilitating of improved work/life balance.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:
(the role will evolve over time once the garden is established)

2023

• Assisting in designing the educational garden with the Growing Local directors and project manager
• Assisting in the purchase of garden sheds, polytunnels, tools, construction materials and other purchasing requirements within the allocated budget
• Constructing the garden with a team of Growing Local directors, staff and volunteers with a view to garden completion by the end of 202
• Leading regular guided volunteer sessions to help construct the garden (assisted by sessional staff) with local school groups, afterschool DofE groups, local organisations and charities, to start circa June 202
• Development of a new programme of garden educational workshops for preschool, KS1 and KS2 school groups, in conjunction with the directors and local schools
• Development of a new holiday/weekend children's and family gardening programme
• Ensure the new garden is as accessible as possible to a wide range of users

2024 and Ongoing:

• Educational garden planning, crop rotations and multicrop vegetable, fruit and herb growing
• Ordering supplies i.e seed orders, compost and new equipment in accordance with the educational garden budget. Maintaining equipment in good working order
• Planning, delivery and managing of the schools garden education programme to preschools, primary, SEN and occasionally secondary schools circa 100 half day sessions a year. Sessions to be assisted by sessional staff and volunteers
• Occasionally developing bespoke schools sessions as and when required
• Planning, delivery and managing of the children's, family and youth weekend/holiday programme, approx 30 sessions a year. Sessions to be assisted by sessional staff and volunteers
• Planning, delivery and managing of the adult gardening programme, approx 30 sessions a year
• Running a monthly adult volunteer session to assist with the maintenance of the garden with community members
• Ensuring Health and Safety practices are in place and being followed and documented
• Work with the grower, project manager and Growing Local directors providing regular updates on the educational garden, attending regular meetings
• Assisting in planning and delivering of the Growing Local Gardens seasonal events, fundraisers and open days
• Regular review of