An exceptionally hot and dry spell in Britain has revealed the outline of a "lost" 17th-century garden at the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire. Aerial views show traces of 'The Great Parterre,' an ornamental arrangement of flower beds and paths created around 1699 for William Cavendish, the 1st Duke of Devonshire.
The garden, which measured 473 feet by 227 feet, was designed to complement a new south façade of the historic property and followed the formal garden fashion of the era. It was covered over and replaced with a new design around 1730 by the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.
The current hot weather has caused the grass laid over the original garden to burn more quickly due to its shorter roots, creating a contrast that temporarily reveals the patterns of the 1st Duke's original garden. This phenomenon was also observed during the 2022 heatwave.
Staff at Chatsworth reported temperatures exceeding 30C (86F) in May, June, and July, with a peak of 38.1C recorded on July 26, 2022. These conditions represent a notable departure from climate averages for the Derbyshire and East Midlands regions, with significantly more sunshine and less rainfall than usual. The area experienced 33% more sunshine hours and 32% less rainfall compared to climate averages.
Across the UK, the dry conditions have led to widespread hosepipe bans. Companies such as Anglian Water, Affinity Water, Southern Water, and South East Water have imposed restrictions affecting millions of customers across various regions, including eastern England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, London, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, and Kent.
Reservoir storage levels in England are currently at 79%, which is approximately five percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year. Six reservoirs have been classified as having "notably low" levels, including Wimbleball in Somerset, Grafham in Cambridgeshire, and Hanningfield in Essex. The Blagdon reservoir in Somerset is reported to be at an "exceptionally low" level.
In response to the dry conditions, the Chatsworth garden team is implementing new water management strategies. These include increasing organic matter in the soil to improve water infiltration and absorption, and reducing runoff during heavy rainfall. The estate has seen extended periods of no recorded rainfall, with south-east England experiencing its longest unbroken dry spell in over 30 years. The Met Office reported 17 consecutive days with no measurable rainfall in this region from July 2 to July 18, a duration not seen since March-April 1995.