Student internships at Benmore

Residential interns must be over 18 years of age. Those aged 16+ can join us for the working period but need to be residential elsewhere. This is ideal for local school pupils looking for work experience.

Accommodation is available on site for two interns in the staff flat.

Two single occupancy rooms, an equipped kitchen/dining room, shower room and toilet provide the basics needed for short- mind term occupancy. We ask you bring your own bedding but can provide if necessary.

There is plenty of safe parking available at the accommodation building.

Please aim to arrive between 0800 and 1630 as we cannot guarantee a member of staff will be available to welcome you to the accommodation out with these times, although with prior arrangement, we will remain as flexible as we can.

We can assist with lifts to and from the Dunoon ferry terminal if arranged in advance.

Interns are required to provide their own safety/steel toe-capped boots and waterproof clothing which are essential to work in the garden. A list of Essential Clothing required will be provided when a place is offered and accepted. We will aim to support those who need, just let us know.

Interns will work on the ground, alongside the horticulture team at Benmore undertaking a wide range of tasks in all areas of the garden.

Our working hours are: 

• Monday-Thursday 0809 - 1630
• Friday 0809 -1530

Where possible we will plan for interns to gain experience in areas of interest. Tasks include:

• Care and maintenance of the living plant collection
• Introduction to databasing, accessioning and collection management
• Border maintenance & cultivation
• Ground preparation
• Preparing plant material for and planting out
• Lawn care
• Pruning and dead wooding
• Hedge cutting
• Chipping woody material
• Tree and shrub removal
• Seed collecting
• Cleaning ditches, drains and ponds
• Applying mulch/fertiliser
• Path construction & maintenance
• Glasshouse hygiene
• Potting up nursery stock
• Propagation using a range of techniques
• Irrigation

The garden is open to the public 1st March until the 31st October with the Fernery opening daily from 11am – 4pm. The garden team operate all year round.

There are lots of places to explore in the area during your stay: Pucks Glen, Kilmun arboretum and Castle Howard Museum are all within a short distance.

There is plenty of temperate rainforest and coniferous plantation, open hill and coastline to explore in the area.

Dunoon offers a range of cafes, takeaways, galleries, theatre and meets most basic shopping needs. The area has an active community with a broad selection of activities and events. More information can be found at What’s On Dunoon. 

With a bus stop at the garden, there are good public transport links across the Cowal peninsula.

More information on buses can be found at West Coast Motors who also provide the on-demand service - Moove Flexi , an app that allows customers to book a shared journey not served by bus at a time that suits you. 

• Dunoon has two ferry terminals. Western Ferries operate a vehicle ferry from Hunters Quay to Gourock.

• Caledonian MacBrayne pedestrian ferry running from Dunoon Pier to Gourock (which meets the train to Glasgow)