Since Bess of Hardwick built Chatsworth in 1552, its fertile Derbyshire soil has produced high-quality fruit, vegetables and flowers for those willing to invest the time and care to grow them. 

Much of the produce is grown for use on the estate, just as it was then. Crops are sent to our restaurants, hotels and inns, and to local makers, where they are turned into chutneys or flavoured spirits for sale online or in the estate farm shop.  

The Production Gardens are tucked on the hill behind the house and are tended by a core team of 12 supported by three casual gardeners, horticultural students and Chatsworth House Trust volunteers. 

Over the next 12 months, we’ll follow their progress in this new blog series, keeping up to date with their achievements, and their disappointments (it happens to us all) and they’ll share hints and tips for other gardeners based on these experiences along the way.