The Role
We are looking for a Garden Supervisor to support the Garden Curator in leading the horticultural team. You will play a key role in maintaining high standards across the Garden working with the agreed work plan.
As a key team member, you’ll support daily horticultural operations across the Garden and Woodland. You should have a keen interest in plants and a willingness to learn more about our historic collection to support its development for the future.
You will also assist the Garden Curator with health and safety, operating within the Borde Hill Health & Safety Policy, to ensure safety of the team, volunteers and visitors.
This hands-on role expects you to have excellent plant knowledge, good people skills, and the confidence to lead garden tours and support public engagement, including through social media when needed.
Knowledge, skills and experience: (Please provide evidence in your Covering Letter and CV)
Essential:
• Hands-on experience backed by relevant qualifications (e.g. RHS Level 2, Botanic Garden Diploma, ND, HND, or BSc in Horticulture).
• Knowledge of herbaceous and woody plants, propagation, cultivation, and plant collection management.
• Knowledge of a range of horticultural techniques.
• Skilled in using a wide range of horticultural equipment and machinery.
• Awareness of health and safety, including COSHH and risk assessments.
• Proficient in MS Office and database use.
• Full, clean driving licence.
Desirable:
• Experience of a similar working environment, ideally within a visitor attraction with permanent collections.
• Some experience of staff and volunteer supervision
• A horticultural or botanical specialism
• NPTC PA1 and PA6 spraying certifications.
Key Attributes
• Flexible, calm, and willing to support other departments as needed.
• A team player with good communication skills.
• Energetic, inclusive, proactive, and well-organised.
About Borde Hill
Borde Hill Garden is a stunning Grade II* English Heritage-listed Garden set in 383 acres of parkland and woodland. The Garden is a registered charity whose core purpose is to enhance and preserve 17 acres of formal garden and 18 acres of woodland. Established in the early 1900s with plants collected from global expeditions, it now features over 70 champion trees and 8,000 species catalogued by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Alongside the living collection, its plant archive helps bring to life the garden's rich horticultural and social history, offering visitors a glimpse of ‘the world in one garden.’
Owned by the Stephenson Clarke family for five generations, Borde Hill is undergoing an exciting phase of renewal, focused on broadening its appeal and long-term sustainability. Key initiatives include field-to-fork dining, restoring the Walled Kitchen Garden, a new biodynamic Market Garden, and revitalising the parkland with improved infrastructure and climate-conscious planting.
To apply: email your CV & covering letter to: manager@bordehill.co.uk
If you are in employment, please include your current notice period.
