Head Gardener

Role:

We are looking for an energetic and experienced Head Gardener to lead on and develop the regeneration of 12-acres of historic gardens attached to the main house, including a 1-acre walled kitchen garden on an ecologically ambitious rural Estate.   

Working to organic and low carbon principles, this role offers the opportunity to shape a living landscape that embraces a future rooted in soil health, biodiversity, and a thriving community and ecosystem.

The successful candidate will lead a small team and collaborating with the Owner, Estate management team, garden designers and landscape architects, will have the opportunity to innovate, plan and execute garden improvement projects.

Rotherfield is evolving in many ways which reflect our values to enhance the estates natural and ecological assets, and support social, and community aims and objectives. Whilst the gardens have been continually maintained, we will be looking to the Head Gardener to develop a 15-year vision and management plan with a view to enhance soil health and biodiversity and reduce unnecessary maintenance and intervention that can be better engineered.

An alternative provision school was set up on the estate last year, and we are keen to expand opportunities for students to learn in the gardens, understanding soil health, food production, and the rhythms of nature.

Background:

Rotherfield is a progressive estate, taking the best of the old and the new to create a well-cared for, healthy and self-sufficient community, where employment is not solely dependent on agriculture or local economic conditions.

We are on a mission to continuously improve our soils and, in the long run, all outputs (social/economic/environmental) from our regenerative farming system. We believe that the landscape in which the estate community sits, should produce the optimal long-term yields of food and other crops, whilst still being home to a diverse range of wildlife and restorative space for the people that live and work in it.  

There are over 40 people working at Rotherfield across different teams, including an alternative provision for school refusers, founded last year. A strong group of Team Leaders work together directly with the Owner on our long-term strategy to build ‘a thriving community for today and tomorrow’ where every decision is made with H.E.A.R.T  (Honesty, Empathy, All in, Readiness and Thoughtfulness) in mind.

Ideally you will possess:

• Horticultural qualifications
• Experience in horticulturally diverse gardens
• Good physical fitness
• Excellent plant identification
• Project management (plans, plants, people, budget)
• Strong communication
• People management
• A passion for what you do and the ability to engage others/young people

• Housed/service accommodation included on beautiful estate in South Downs
• Water & council tax paid
• Log contribution
• Generous employer pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (confidential counselling service)
• Annual health checks
• Designated woodland access for team use
• Great team!

For a position description please contact the Estate Office on 01420 588207.

Applications close: COB Friday 30th January 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 9th February 2026