Community Orchard Team Manager

Everyone should have access to seasonal food grown in their neighbourhood. Our Community Orchard work puts the skills needed to grow fruit trees in the hands of local communities. Fruit trees are great because, once established, they keep on giving. Community Orchards also support wildlife, sequester carbon, engage communities, and support wellbeing.

Over the last 20 years, we have planted over 2,800 fruit trees creating over 220 community & school orchards & 10 food forests. We are now expanding our Community Orchard work to cover more areas in Sussex and are looking for someone to join our diverse Community Orchard team.

We are looking for someone to manage the team and coordinate our orchard planting and maintenance for approximately two days per week.

You will work closely with our existing Orchard Strategy & Development Manager (Jenni Cresswell), with a focus on the daily management of the Orchard Team workers and coordinating our orchard planting and maintenance. The work will include site assessments, record-keeping, coordinating stock as well as hands-on tree planting and aftercare with communities.,

• Managing the operational delivery of the orchard team, currently eight part-time contractors


• Coordinating and scheduling regular work sessions in community orchards for the team and volunteers.


• Leading practical volunteer sessions with training elements in tree planting and maintenance in community orchards. Working with fruit & nut trees as well as other tree crops, edible edges & hedges, shelter, food & wildlife belts and forest gardens.


• Coordinating site assessments and planting plans; specifications, ordering and arranging deliveries.


• Working with communities to develop and maintain engagement on existing and new orchard sites


• Working closely with the Community Orchard Strategy & Development Manager to ensure effective delivery of strategic aims


• Providing timely feedback from each work session to Community Orchard Strategy & Development Manager


• Liaising with the Volunteer Coordinator in setting up and reporting back on volunteer sessions


• Keeping records for each location including trees planted, work carried out and future work required