Blenheim Palace, the historic home of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill, is ramping up its efforts to embrace sustainability and provide fresh, homegrown produce to its kitchens. In a bid to meet the increasing demand for farm-to-table ingredients, the Palace has doubled the size of its beloved Kitchen Garden, located within its picturesque 18th-century Walled Garden. This ambitious project aims to achieve self-sufficiency in fresh produce by 2027 – a goal that blends heritage with modern sustainability.
A Bigger, Better Kitchen Garden
The expansion sees the original one-acre garden grow to a spacious two acres, alongside the addition of three new greenhouses dedicated to tomatoes and plant propagation. The upgraded space now features 80 no-dig compost beds, neatly arranged with woodchip pathways in between. This layout allows visitors to stroll through the garden and interact with a bounty of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in their natural setting.
In the expanded garden, you can expect to see a greater variety of crops than ever before, from heritage beetroots and carrots to squash, chard, and cavolo nero. The team is also adding perennial vegetables like asparagus and rhubarb, along with unique varieties such as Welsh onions and Korean mint. The goal is not just to increase supply for the Palace kitchens, but to introduce a whole new array of exciting flavours to the table.
Growing with Purpose: From Garden to Kitchen
The Palace’s gardening team is on a mission to provide the kitchens with fresh, organic produce with zero air miles and no plastic packaging – a noble effort to reduce their carbon footprint while delivering high-quality ingredients. Harrison Fannon, the Vegetable Gardener at Blenheim Palace, explains:
“Growing more vegetables to meet the demand of the kitchens is crucial, and becoming self-sufficient in just three years is a big challenge. But the ambition to deliver fresh, organic produce without relying on transportation or plastic packaging drives me every day.”
The no-dig gardening method, which has been implemented throughout the expanded space, is both intensive and sustainable. This approach allows the team to produce multiple crops per bed throughout the year, helping to make the most of every inch of the garden while maintaining eco-friendly practices. It’s a modern twist on the Walled Garden’s original purpose: to produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables in a controlled, wind-free environment that maximizes sunlight and minimizes animal interference.
A Feast for the Eyes (and the Stomach)
Visitors to Blenheim Palace can now walk through the garden and get an up-close look at the abundant crops growing there. And if the Palace kitchen ends up with a surplus of produce, there’s talk of selling it directly to visitors through a vegetable cart in the Walled Garden – a perfect way to take a little bit of Blenheim home with you!
Harrison adds:
“The Walled Garden’s original purpose was to intensively grow fruits and vegetables, and we’re honoring that tradition. Since I arrived three years ago, the garden has undergone a transformation, from almost nothing to the thriving, productive space it is today. This current expansion is just the latest chapter, and by the end of this year, we hope to be providing the majority of the kitchen’s vegetable needs.”
Behind the Scenes: Hard Work Pays Off
Creating this larger garden hasn’t been an easy task. The team has moved 160 cubic meters of compost and topsoil by wheelbarrow, meticulously spreading it to create long, smooth rows of fertile beds. Harrison admits, “It’s exhausting work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. With a strong team, we’ve been able to transform the space and make it both productive and beautiful.”
By combining hard work, sustainable methods, and a deep respect for the land, Blenheim Palace is making great strides toward its goal of self-sufficiency, all while enriching the visitor experience with a truly authentic taste of what the estate has to offer.
A Legacy of Sustainability
Blenheim Palace is committed to caring for the land in sustainable ways, aligning with their broader environmental goals. The Estate aims to achieve net zero, support the local economy, provide affordable housing, and focus on training and community support. This ambitious vision for the future is reflected not only in their gardens but also in their dedication to making the estate a better place for both people and nature.
The expansion of Blenheim’s Kitchen Garden is just one example of how the Estate is weaving sustainability into its rich 300-year history, ensuring that both the past and the future thrive together.
