This week, the remains of a 17th-century “hidden” garden at Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire, England, were discovered by drones, the BBC revealed.
According to the same publication, the historic garden, which dates back to 1699 and was designed for the 1st Duke of Devonshire, features flower beds and carefully designed pathways that have been hidden for nearly 300 years.
The project was closed in 1730, however, recently, temperatures of up to 40 °C have revealed “substantial remains buried”.
According to Steve Porter, Head of Gardens and Landscaping at Chatsworth, “We can now clearly see the intricate patterns of the historic gardens”: “The current heatwave is causing us problems elsewhere in the garden, but here it has revealed a gem. It has not been properly used for nearly 300 years!” He told the British News Agency. “We knew it was there, but until now, it was a green field. It was all covered up,” he added.
Similarly, it is exposed only during periods of extreme heat. Therefore, climate change may make such events more frequent in the coming years. “It disappears again when the temperature drops and it rains a little, but in the meantime it’s wonderful to see the past,” exclaimed the official, adding that every time he looks at it, “he sees more details . . . more coils of layers and more ways”. “It brings everything back to life and we realize how complex and amazing it would have been,” he said.
Although Porter told the BBC that a full restoration of the old garden is not expected anytime soon, he believes the garden can be rebuilt with gravel once the soil recovers.
The Chatsworth Estate, located in the Peak District National Park, has been in a Devonshire family for 16 generations and is currently leased to the Chatsworth House Trust, established in 1981, which is dedicated to the long-term preservation of Chatsworth House. Collections of garden, forest and park.
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