One of the most important and nifty features of our Kitchen Garden is the temperature-controlled poly tunnel. The poly tunnel is designed to protect and enhance the growth of our produce year round. The temperature control allows the plants to grow under optimal conditions and can even speed up the growth process. Not only that, but the coverage protects the produce from the challenges of the Great British weather and keeps away Harty’s wildlife (they’ve been known to have a nibble every now and again)! We grow a range of produce in here, including our heirloom tomato varieties, chillies, peppers, melons and leafy greens.

The fruit cage is home to much of our fruit that we grow throughout the seasons. The ‘cage’ is actually a large net fixed to a wooden frame that surrounds the entirety of the produce planted. The reason - to keep out Harty’s fruit-loving wildlife! Pheasants, partridges, hares and a whole host of animals have been known to be fans of our fruit. What we grow here changes by the season, but you'll find find staples such as rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries and cherries, just to name a few, throughout the year. Our squash bed is also just behind, growing pumpkins in autumn and a wealth of squash varieties.

Our herb garden is one of the most frequently visited parts of the Kitchen Garden. Our gardeners and chefs are always out cutting and picking herbs for our dishes, cocktails, mocktails and desserts. Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and wild garlic are just a few of the herbs growing, adding their unique kicks of flavour to our dishes. On a visit to the Kitchen Garden you might spot some of our less common varieties too (chocolate mint anyone?). In 2022 Head Gardener, Natalie Read and her team will be re-planting an even bigger herb garden, so keep a look out for new herby flavours on our menu.

Our 'Secret Orchard' is a scenic part of the Kitchen Garden home to our variety of fruit trees. It’s a lovely space for some peace and quiet, and its secluded location and beautiful scenery make it a popular photography spot for newlywed couples who get married with us. Here we have a range of rare apple varieties, pears, plum and quince trees - with varieties you might not find in your local supermarket! It’s surrounded by our ‘Edible Hedge’, where our chefs often forage a variety of nuts, berries, flowers and hips that grow year round.

In such beautiful natural sounds, the biodiversity of our garden in support of the local eco system is incredibly important to us. Our gardeners plant wildflowers throughout the garden, making it a hot spot for pollinators. Some flowers are also used for ‘companion planting’, meaning they are planted next to certain produce as a natural way to keep away pests, reduce our use of pesticides to near zero and encourage growth. Not only that, but they look pretty too!

There are so many benefits of having a Kitchen Garden, and one of those is sustainability. With the vast majority of our produce being either from our very own garden or sourced locally from Kent, our food miles stay very low. Not only does this help the environment, but seasonal produce allows for fresher and tastier ingredients that are out of the store-bought norm. We are also really conscious of what we put into landfill and have a sophisticated composting system. Producing our own compost - which in turn is used to fertilise the garden - really brings our produce full circle.