Lead Gardener

Southern Hospice Group; Arundel; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Hospice Group in Arundel is seeking a Lead Gardener to shape and maintain welcoming outdoor spaces for patients, families, and staff. You will oversee gardening activities from propagation in the polytunnel to kitchen gardens and meadow areas, ensuring high horticultural standards.

This role combines hands-on work with supervision, leading garden staff and volunteers, planning workloads, and coordinating gardens across varied spaces, including woodland walks and ponds.

Qualifications

• Experience in gardening leadership and supervision.
• Strong horticultural knowledge and standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead garden staff and volunteers, coordinating workloads and schedules.
• Maintain high horticultural standards across all areas, from propagation to outdoor spaces.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards; collaborate with Grounds Manager.

Job description

As a Lead Gardener at Southern Hospice Group, you will play a vital role in shaping and maintaining welcoming, peaceful outdoor environments that offer comfort, reflection, and calm for patients, families, and staff. Our hospice grounds provide a highly varied and rewarding setting, from propagation in the polytunnel to kitchen gardens, wildflower meadows, woodland walks, wildlife ponds, private contemporary patient gardens, and expansive green spaces.

In this role, you will take both a hands-on and supervisory position, leading garden staff and volunteers while maintaining the highest horticultural standards across all areas. Your work will directly contribute to wellbeing, offering a strong sense of purpose, pride, and job satisfaction.

You will be responsible for planning and coordinating workloads, ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards, and working collaboratively with the Grounds Manager to deliver high-quality outcomes. Alongside practical gardening duties, you will guide and support volunteers and corporate groups, creating a positive and well-organised experience for everyone involved.

If you are an experienced gardener with strong leadership skills, a passion for horticulture, and a desire to make a meaningful difference, this is a rewarding opportunity to combine responsibility, creativity, and purpose.