The Gardens Trust is calling for expressions of interest from people who would like to join the Board or one of the Trust’s Committees or Groups. This is because a number of Board vacancies will be created in 2022 by term limits.
The Gardens Trust is the only national charity dedicated to the conservation of designed landscapes in England and Wales, to researching them and to campaigning on their behalf. The Gardens Trust plays a key conservation role and supports the County Gardens Trusts in protecting and conserving our landscape heritage and in encouraging its use by a broad public.
The Gardens Trust is managed by a Board of up to twelve Trustees, who are nominated by the existing Board and elected by members of the Trust at our Annual General Meeting. Trustees serve for an initial term of three years, renewable to a maximum term of six years. The role is unpaid but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
Role of new GT Trustees
As a Trustee, you will be responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Trust, developing and implementing the aims, objectives and goals during a period of exciting change and growth. Trustees bring a wide range of professional skills and personal experience. We are particularly interested in expressions of interest from people with experience in the following areas:
· Garden history (academic)
· Conservation and landscape architecture/planning
· HR, in particular equality, diversity and inclusion, CSR
The Gardens Trust is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity, and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique and collective contributions they make. We are keen to meet applicants with a wide range of backgrounds and experience in order to provide a balanced and effective Board. We welcome candidates who can contribute a diversity of representation and thinking, including people from minority ethnic groups, LGBT+ people, people with disabilities, and those with experience of socio-economic disadvantage.
The Board usually meets four times a year, plus an annual awayday. Meetings take place in the afternoon, currently in March, June, October and December. During the pandemic, meetings are being held by Zoom. Trustees will be expected to allocate around one day per month as a basic requirement, although more time might be required for involvement in projects or specific initiatives. Trustees also normally participate in the work of the Trust’s Committees or Groups.
To indicate your interest in becoming a new GT Trustee please send a cover letter setting out how you meet the criteria and a CV to the Trust’s Secretary Maureen Nolan by 22 April. For further information or an informal discussion about the role please contact Maureen Nolan.
