A secret garden that had been hidden for 300 years was opened by a heat wave

The heat revealed a lost garden that had been hidden for 300 years.

The ornate European-style gardens at the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire were built in 1699 for the first Duke of Devonshire.

With an intricate display of flower beds and paths, the garden was designed to provide a beautiful view of the south side of the stately home, which was then just completed.

Barely thirty years later, it was covered with grass to replace the southern grass, but the garden debris is still under a thin layer of dirt and grass.

Now the prolonged hot and dry weather allowed the thin areas to dry faster, again revealing the outlines of the magnificent gardens.

Steve Porter, director of gardens and landscaping for Chatsworth, saw an old garden known as the Great Parterre with a silver lining while the heat was causing problems in other parts of the paddy field.

“Every time you watch it, you see almost more detail, more bed rolls and more paths, and it all comes to life, and you see how difficult and amazing it is. I get it,” she said.

Steve told the BBC that the “central” garden was designed to be visible from the house, a way for Duke to show off his wealth.

“It was something that everyone wanted to see and it was pretty good,” he added.

Steve said he had no plans to restore the garden in the future, despite public demand, but the real estate team would cut the grass to various heights to outline the garden. We are considering using gravel to achieve the same effect.

“What I find very unique about Chatsworth is its ever-changing and ever-improving landscape. I think it’s great to have a hidden secret.”

Located in the Peak District National Park, the Chatsworth Estate has been part of the Devonshire family for 16 generations.

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