Head Gardener

Quarr Abbey; Binstead; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An iconic historic site is seeking a Head Gardener for a role based in Binstead, England. The successful candidate will lead a team to maintain gardens and estates, ensuring high standards through hands-on work and strong leadership. Responsibilities include garden maintenance, project planning, and training staff/volunteers. Ideal candidates must have horticultural expertise, excellent organizational skills, and a valid UK driving licence. Benefits include additional holidays and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Additional holidays with long service

Staff discount

Lunch provided if necessary

Opportunities for personal development

Qualifications

• 3 years experience in a similar role.
• Proven leadership or senior-level experience.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the gardens/estate team.
• Plan and implement estate works and projects.
• Maintain gardens, orchards, and landscapes.

Skills

Leadership skills

Organizational skills

Horticultural knowledge

Physical fitness

Education

Full UK driving licence

Chainsaw certification

Tools

Gardening tools

Vehicles/machinery

Job description

Head Gardener

One year fixed term - with potential to become a permanent contract

37.5 hours a week Monday-Friday

£33,000 - £35,000 a year

We are seeking a candidate for the role of Head Gardener at Quarr Abbey. The Head Gardener is responsible for the leadership, and operational delivery of our gardens/estate, staff and volunteers. The Abbey is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with an SSSI and a scheduled ancient monument. The site contains both public and private gardens, orchards, farm land, woodland and copses, with a grade 1 listed building and a medieval Abbey ruins. This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic, historic Island location, with a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. This is a hands‑on position with need for an experienced horticulturalist, with good knowledge in all aspects of maintaining an estate. The role requires balancing the day‑to‑day gardens/estate work with the administrative and managerial duties. Works carried out by the gardens team include: General gardening duties, planting, lawn care, production of fruit and vegetables, landscaping, grounds maintenance, path repairs, producing plants for sale, tree work and firewood processing, fencing, ditching and drainage etc.

It is essential you will have:

• 3 years experience within a similar role
• Proven leadership or senior‑level experience
• Excellent communication and organisational skills to lead and manage staff/volunteers to maintain and improve the gardens/estate
• Be self‑motivated, with excellent attention to detail, to plan and implement works and projects
• Relevant horticultural, landscaping, estate maintenance, managerial experience and knowledge
• Competence with a wide range of tools and practises
• Experience in how to use and maintain a wide range of vehicles/machinery
• Sound understanding of health and safety requirements
• Be physically fit to carry out all outdoor duties
• Willingness to develop skills and gain new experience
• The attributes to best represent Quarr Abbey to Guests and visitors

Licence/certification:

• Full UK driving licence (required)
• Chainsaw certification (preferred)

Benefits include:

• Additional holidays with long service
• Staff discount
• A simple lunch provided if necessary
• Opportunities for future personal development

Please send your application with a covering letter and CV to: [e-mail]

Application deadline: 26/1/26

All applicants must have a sensitivity to the history and culture of Quarr Abbey