Senior Walled Kitchen Gardener

About Borde Hill  
Borde Hill (BH) is a Grade II* English Heritage listed Garden set within 383 acres of Parkland and Woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with wider farmland beyond. The Garden and Park are open to visitors from February – December each season.  

Borde Hill has a legacy of rare and unusual plants collected by the great plant hunters in the early 1900s, and has over 70 champion trees across the estate. The Stephenson Clarke family have been custodians of Borde Hill for five generations, and are at a time of generational change, bringing new energy and projects aimed at broadening our visitor demographic and ensuring Borde Hill is sustainable for future generations.  

2025 will see the launch of The Cordia Collective - a new culinary venture from Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson. The Cordia Collective will be dynamic and multifaceted, championing locally sourced, seasonal food, while celebrating the rich biodiversity and plant heritage of Borde Hill. The project, much like nature itself, will continue to evolve, starting life as a Micro-Bakery Café in spring 2025, before developing into a new glasshouse restaurant, café and wine bar and workshop space in the former Stables in autumn 2025. A key feature will be our beautifully restored Walled Garden, which will be planted with rare and edimental plants from around the globe, complimenting Borde Hill’s nationally important plant collection. 

You and Your Role 
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Borde Hill team as Senior Walled Kitchen Gardener, overseeing the restoration of our one acre biodynamic Victorian Walled Garden.  

Award winning Garden Designer Ann-Marie Powell has redesigned the space, leading with edimental planting which celebrates the principles of ‘rare and unusual’ that define Borde Hill’s horticultural legacy. The design introduces a tapestry of heritage varieties and companion planting schemes that will transform this historic space into a dynamic growing environment. From the restored fruit-trained walls to intimate dining spaces nestled among the plantings, every element has been carefully considered to create moments of discovery.  

The Walled Garden will be focused on a progressive fusion approach, using edimental planting for aesthetic purposes, some of which will be available for harvesting. This space will be exclusively open to those dining at the new field to fork restaurant ‘Cordia’ due to open at the end of this year, therefore high ornamental and cultivation practices are essential throughout the season.  

You will also be working closely with our Senior Grower at the four acre biodynamic Market Garden located at Sugworth Farm on Borde Hill Estate, to produce ‘field to fork’ seasonal fruit and vegetables supplying the restaurant and cafes.  
You will be joining us at the implementation stage of this exciting project and if you are a passionate horticulturalist with creative flair, have a strong working knowledge of Walled Gardens with ornamental garden experience, and are looking for a career highlight, then this could be the job for you. 

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:  
(Please provide evidence in your Covering Letter and CV) 

You will have the following responsibilities: 

•    Oversee a small team including volunteers and students, supported by the Head Gardener
•    Collaborate with the Market Garden Senior Grower, and Chef, to ensure ready supply of productive crops to the ‘field to fork’ offer, as well as the sowing of annual ornamental planting.
•    Work within the standards of Demeter and attend annual inspections, preparing all of the paperwork and keeping records of Biodynamic spraying activities.
•    Be responsible for the care of all plants within the Walled Garden, and the indoor plants within the glasshouse restaurant and cafe.
•    Contribute to Borde Hill’s wider work as a member of the Garden Team, actively participating in scheduled and ad hoc departmental meetings with the Head Gardener, General Manager and the Managing Director.
•    Delegated authority for annual budgets for the Walled Garden supported by the Head Gardener and Finance Team.

Essential Selection Criteria 

Skills & Qualifications required: 

•    Proven all-round horticultural training and experience to at least RHS Level 2 or equivalent.
•    A strong level of understanding of ornamental plant propagation, seed sowing, productive crops, non-chemical pest and disease management, and other plant husbandry techniques needed in a Walled Garden setting.
•    Ability to propagate annual ornamental additions to complement the perennial edimental schemes, as well as creating seasonal container displays and care of permanent glasshouse displays.
•    An understanding of growing plants undercover and cultivation under polytunnels.
•    An understanding of how to manage the cultivation of heavy clay soil and the climatic influences it may have.
•    Able to be strategic in work planning, energetic, proactive, inclusive, enthusiastic and organised.
•    Excellent communication skills to work collaboratively with the Senior Grower, Chef, Family, and all members of the Borde Hill team; with the ability to explain horticultural procedures to students and volunteers.
•    Experience of leading a small team (preferable) with demonstratable people management skills.
•    Proven experience in the use of a wide range of equipment and machinery.
•    Understanding and experience of health and safety procedures including COSHH and risk assessment procedures.
•    Computer literate with experience of MS Office software, and able to use databases accurately.
•    A full, clean driving licence.

Borde Hill has a small, dedicated, professional and friendly team who embody a ‘one team’ culture.  We strive to ensure that everyone is valued and fairly rewarded for the work they do and your package includes: 

•    An annual Borde Hill family membership allowing free entry to the Garden and Parkland
•    Discount in the Borde Hill shop and catering outlets
•    Free tickets for selected events throughout the open season
•    Free access at selected times to our Partner Gardens (Chelsea Physic Garden, The Newt and Sculpture by the Lakes)
•    Free access to our wellbeing programme of events
•    A flexible working pattern where possible
•    Free parking

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation. 

Hours: 37.5 hrs per week  
Holiday entitlement: 32 days pro rata (including Bank Holidays)

To apply: Email your CV & covering letter to: manager@bordehill.co.uk

If you are in employment, please include your current notice period.