An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Skilled Gardener to join a beautiful private historic garden near Petworth, West Sussex, on a full-time, permanent, live-out basis. This exceptional seven-acre garden has been lovingly developed and maintained by its owners over the past 33 years, who are now seeking a passionate and knowledgeable horticulturist to work alongside the Head Gardener in maintaining and enhancing one of the region’s finest private gardens.

Set within an 18th-century designed landscape, the gardens combine historic character with productive and ornamental horticulture, creating a picturesque setting that balances beauty with functionality. The diverse grounds feature extensive mixed herbaceous borders, a productive fruit and vegetable garden, traditional greenhouses, a mature shrubbery, ornamental yew hedging and topiary, a pleached lime walk, avenues, established fruit trees, woodland walks, wildflower meadows, and a unique grass amphitheatre. The gardens are regularly opened to the public through the National Garden Scheme (NGS), with the owners also hosting guided tours and horticultural talks throughout the year.

Working closely with the Head Gardener, who is taking on the role this October following the departure of the longstanding incumbent, the successful candidate will play a key role in the day-to-day maintenance, presentation, and continued development of the gardens. Approximately half of the role will be dedicated to the productive fruit and vegetable garden, making strong practical experience in kitchen gardening, fruit cultivation, crop management, and seasonal vegetable production essential. Alongside routine garden maintenance, the Skilled Gardener will support all aspects of ornamental horticulture, including planting, pruning, border maintenance, lawn care, greenhouse work, and general estate gardening, ensuring the gardens remain in excellent condition throughout the seasons.

Although this is not a management position, the successful candidate will act as the Head Gardener’s deputy when required, demonstrating the confidence and initiative to oversee daily activities, support part-time gardeners and external contractors, and maintain the high horticultural standards expected across the garden. The wider gardening team includes a part-time gardener specialising in border maintenance, together with external contractors responsible for hedge cutting and lawn care.

The ideal candidate will be a practical, physically fit, and enthusiastic gardener with excellent plant knowledge, strong attention to detail, and a genuine passion for traditional horticulture and productive gardening. You will be a reliable team player who is equally comfortable working collaboratively or independently, with a proactive approach and a positive, can-do attitude.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Skilled Gardener, Estate Gardener, or Kitchen Gardener looking to further their horticultural career within a prestigious private garden in West Sussex, working in a supportive environment dedicated to excellence in gardening and the long-term stewardship of a historically significant landscape.

SALARY:        Circa £34,000 DOE

LOCATION:  Near Petworth, West Sussex

JOB No:          EC74045

If this Skilled Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply below,  call Sara Yassin on 01233 733510 or email info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this vacancy.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one.  Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this vacancy has been unsuccessful.

We are proud to work with:

• the Professional Gardeners’ Guild
• the RHS
• the WFGA – offering the WRAGs Scheme
• Arne Maynard Garden Design
• Historic Houses
• the HBG Training Programme

Tagged as: Skilled Gardener, West Sussex