You and Your Role
As a hands-on horticulturalist, you will help maintain the high standards of presentation for which Borde Hill is renowned, while bringing your knowledge, enthusiasm and care to our diverse and important plant collections.
Working as part of the wider Garden Team, you will undertake a varied range of practical horticultural tasks across our garden rooms, helping to care for established plants as well as supporting the ongoing development of the Garden.
Your responsibilities will include the care and cultivation of herbaceous and woody plants, along with planting, border maintenance, pruning, propagation, plant division, irrigation and seasonal garden work. You will also assist with hard and soft landscaping projects and contribute to the ongoing improvement and development of the Garden.
There will be opportunities to put your practical knowledge of plant care, pruning, propagation, machinery and equipment, irrigation and tree care to gooduse, while working alongside experienced colleagues and our Garden Volunteers.
Borde Hill is a garden of significant horticultural and historical importance, with a diverse range of plants and trees collected from around the world. You will therefore have the opportunity to work in a stimulating environment, develop your horticultural skills and contribute to the future of a much-loved Grade II* listed garden.
Knowledge, skills and experience needed
(Please provide evidence in your Covering Letter and CV)
Essential:
• Horticultural qualification equivalent to NVQ level 2 or above or equivalent experience
• Trained as a professional gardener with a good level of theoretical and practical experience
• Knowledge of the cultivation with a range of herbaceous and temperate woody, plants; including pest/disease control, with mulch and compost practices.
• Familiar, confident and with experience of the use of power tools such as strimmer, lawn mowers, hedge cutters etc.
• Confident and happy to interact garden visitors and the public
• Good knowledge of health and safety in horticulture
• Able to carry out manual tasks such as digging, lifting and manual handling
• Able to demonstrate a flexible approach, with good team working and interpersonal skills
Desirable:
• Practical experience of maintaining and presenting an historic, botanic or public garden to a high standard
• Experience of tree work, including chainsaw use
• Practical knowledge of plant records and good IT skills, including Excel
Salary: £24,785 (pro rata) Hours: 37.5 hours per week, and occasional weekend working
Start Date: As soon as possible Holiday entitlement: 32 days pro rata (including Bank Holidays)
To apply: email your CV & covering letter to: [email protected]
Closing date: 23rd October 2026 If you are in employment, please include your current notice period.
