AN historic attraction is filling a variety of new posts created as part of its expansion plans to increase its offer to visitors.

Raby Castle’s two-year development programme, The Rising, requires the recruitment of a number of key posts as it prepares to welcome thousands of visitors a year to the 200-acre parkland setting, near Staindrop.

Among them, it hopes to unearth a head gardener, who will have responsibility for managing and maintaining Raby’s historic walled gardens and new landscaped areas being created as part of The Rising.

The appointee will also play a significant role in maintaining and further establishing the castle’s garden complex, overseeing a team of on-site gardeners.

Once in place the head gardener will join 41 new employees taken on at Raby this year in several departments within the estate.

They include construction manager Simon Hills, who will supervise the intricate restoration of a number of historic buildings on the site, and oversee several new structures being created on the Grade II-listed site.

Other recent recruits are Joanne Swinbank, who has been brought in as marketing manager, Lisa Wilkinson, now permanent retail manager at Raby, with a brief to expand local produce on offer, and Philip Vickers, the new farm manager, driving forward a sustainable farming strategy.

Further posts being filled are those of construction manager, receptionist, digital marketing executive, estate ranger, visitor welcome host, housekeeper, catering assistant and head chef.

New hospitality positions will be created at the Vinery café, new event spaces and the playground kiosk.

Raby’s chief executive, Duncan Peake, said there are “bold plans” for its future.

“Our ambition is to safeguard our heritage buildings and to bring value to the surrounding community and the wider County Durham visitor economy, by positioning Raby as a cultural landmark in which local people can take pride.

“With these exciting growth plans, we need a strong team of passionate and experienced individuals to join us on this journey, and the latest additions to the Raby family are exactly that.”

Further details about remaining vacancies can be found on www.raby.co.uk/about-us/recruitment.

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