IT wasn't the wonder of what I might find at the other end of the grotto that enticed me further in, but the sweet, soft scent of mock orange in full bloom.

The large bush was growing just above the exit and the warmth of the midsummer's day sunshine had heated up and excited the oils in the petals. The slight breeze stroked it gently through the manmade stone tunnel and straight into my antihistamine-cleared nose. I wondered if it had been planned this way or was this just one of those happy planting accidents?

This was my main holiday and I was spending it camping on the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire. The site itself was neatly tucked away in what was once a walled garden next to the languid river Derwent.

All campers were entitled to a key to the secret doorway that transported you immediately into the estate grounds, just yards from the monumental house itself.

This was more than just a holiday for me. I spent a year working on the Chatsworth estate when I was younger, just fairly newly graduated. I looked after the grounds and constructed half of the adventure playground on the farmyard.

They were fun-filled days. I used to have to test all the equipment first thing in the morning, and make sure it was structurally fit for the hoards of visiting children (and adults).

I was shinning up the telegraph pole turrets, swinging down the netting and hanging onto one hundred yards worth of commando slide, all before eight in the morning. I was the main firstaider for the playground and farmyard, but fortunately, the worst injury I ever had to treat was my own. I was cleaning my new, extra curved pruning knife and forgot that the tip came out as far as it did.

Consequently, I sliced quite a chunk out of my middle finger. It soon healed, but the subsequent tetanus jab that I had to have very soon afterwards dragged the pain (and the embarrassment) out a few days longer.

In the decade (plus) since I left the Derbyshire estate, the gardens have been added to and have really matured. The new sensory garden is a delight.

It has been created from locally-sourced natural material. The fencing consists of an array of wood types; inch thick pole screens, rough hewn boards, knobbly arched branches nailed together and thick rounds of yew trunks screwed vertically upright.

The seating in the centre was built out of the local stone, some done smoothly, others rough and textured. The planting was of the usual sensory make-up; bamboos, globe artichokes, sweet peas, hostas, stachys, thyme - anything that smells, is interesting to the touch or makes a noise in the wind.

For me, though, the piece de resistance has to be the newly-commissioned statue called 'Revelation'. It is found in the middle of a gravity-fed, rectangular carp pond, halfway up the hillside. Collected rainwater runs from the reservoirs on the top of the moors. It is forced up a tube that runs up the middle of a huge brass globe.

The orb fills up gradually and eventually discharges all its contents in a crashing stream of water. The brass globe, now empty, and consequently lighter, rises upwards and through the actions of levers and pulleys, causing the brushed steel outer casing to split into two sections that open outwards.

It symbolises the maturing and ripening of a flower head, and to me, must be one of the most captivating pieces of garden statuary I have ever come across.

I chose this to be the final part of my garden tour. I had spent four hours on the site but there were still other areas and gardens to visit, but I wanted to end on a high note. I could come back another day to see the rest. It would be a good excuse to do so anyway.

JOBS THIS WEEK

Tie in delphiniums as they begin flowering to prevent the heads from pulling the stems downwards.

Cut back spent heads on hardy geraniums. This not only tidies them up, but encourages further flowering later in the year.

Pick peas as soon as they reach maturity. The more you pick, the more you'll get.

READER'S QUESTION

MR Johnston, from Barnard Castle, has an apple tree in his garden. It is an old, gnarled and unidentified one. Last year, it threw out some branches from the base of the trunk. The leaves are a different shape to the rest of the tree. This year, they have flowered and are setting fruit. He wants to know whether to leave the fruit on and if it will harm his normal crop.

THE new growth is probably coming from the graft that the apple tree was set upon. It may have been put into action by strimming too near the tree, or other accidental injury. It may be something like a quince or other type of apple tree. Either way, it will be of a more vigorous variety. You could have fun and see if the fruit develops, but in the long term, you really want to get rid of the new growth as it will sap all the energy and outgrow the graft. POSTSCRIPT

Brigid presents 'Ask abut Gardening' every Sunday from 12-2pm on BBC Radio Cleveland. Questions for this column can be e-mailed to brigidpress@hotmail. com.

Published: 28/06/2004