FROM ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN TO Sustainability Green

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is doing its bit to help beat climate change.

“Our garden team moved away from peat-based composts a number of years ago,” says Steve Porter, Chatsworth Head of Gardens and Landscape. “We now use a range of composts based on other raw materials, including wool. Our on-site plant sales are all potted up without peat, and our main plant supplier has just delivered an order of 40,000 plants in peat-free compost, 90% of those plants in non-plastic pots.” Chatsworth’s famous bedding displays are changing too. “Our general planting is moving away from bedding or shortterm bulbs to longerseason, more permanent planting that ideally requires no watering, but provides lots of interest for visitors, birds and insects,” says Steve. Visitors to the gardens will also spot changes such as neatly mown grass replaced with longer grass and meadows. “This provides habitat and food sources for pollinators and also reduces our use of fossil fuels for machinery,” says Steve. “We’ll continue to switch to using battery rather the petrol-powered machinery, again to reduce emissions, but also to provide a better environment for our staff and visitors. And we have moved to reduce the use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides to a minimum in all areas. “We’re using integrated pest management within our glasshouses, organic washes and plant invigorators. Elsewhere we only use chemicals to deal with specific pest attacks, helping us to keep on top of more than 100 acres.” ● Chatsworth House and Gardens are open daily 6 Nov-9 Jan 2022, 10am-5.30pm, but closed Christmas and Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Contact 01246 565300;