Head Gardener

Working through a climate resilience lens, with a greener gardening approach, the delivery of the Horticulture Vision places horticulture on a pedestal in the world of public parks like never before. Through the delivery of this strategy, the famous parks we proudly call The Royal Parks are set to have their horticulture raised to a new level. As Head Gardener, you will lead the ongoing maintenance, enhancement and development of the gardens, lawns, borders and landscaped areas, ensuring they are presented to the highest standard throughout the year. You will plan and deliver seasonal planting programmes, oversee pruning, propagation, irrigation and plant health activities, and implement best-practice methods for the control of pests, diseases and weeds. The role involves supervising and supporting gardening team members and external contractors, managing horticultural records, budgets and resources. You will promote a strong culture of health and safety across all gardening operations while contributing innovative ideas and recommendations for future garden improvements, restoration projects and long-term landscape development. Additionally, you will:

• Supply and maintain sufficient tools, equipment and materials for gardeners and volunteers
• Monitor the performance of the landscape maintenance contractor
• Support initiatives including the Apprenticeship scheme, Biodiversity and Sustainability
• Carry out all work with the utmost care and respect for people, place and environment, Please note we're not responsible for the content of job ads, as they're posted by the recruiter. We'll aim to resolve the reported issue and we'll use your feedback to improve the quality of our ads.
  
  We are now looking for a Head Gardener for Kensington Gardens with a passion for plants and horticulture with a strong interest in gardening and managing nature in a prestigious heritage landscape. This is a full-time, permanent role, working 36 hours per week., To be considered as a Head Gardener, you will need:
• Significant practical horticultural experience, ideally within a large estate, private garden, historic property or similar environment
• Strong plant knowledge and an understanding of seasonal garden management
• Experience leading or supervising a team
• Relevant horticultural qualifications (RHS, NVQ, City & Guilds or equivalent) are desirable
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• A proactive, flexible and hands-on approach
• A commitment to delivering outstanding standards and attention to detail
  
  The Royal Parks (TRP) is a charity created in March 2017. We manage over 5,000 acres of diverse parkland, rare habitats and historic buildings and monuments in eight Royal Parks across London. These are Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Green Park, St James's Park, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Bushy Park., The Royal Parks is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Please note interviews will be held on Friday 4th September 2026 at our Kensington Gardens Office. Organisation The Royal Parks View profile Registered Charity 101 - 500 We provide free access to London's beautiful, natural and historic green spaces, to help improve everyone's quality of life and wellbeing.


• Salary of £34,743 - £39,000 per annum, depending on experience
• 26 days' annual leave plus public holidays, increasing to 29 days after 3 years' service
• Pension scheme (3% employee contribution; up to 10% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance and healthcare cash plan
• Employee assistance programme and access to mental health first aiders
• Learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Offices in a beautiful location