Susie Stokoe, Textiles and Seasonal Programme Curator, reflects on the quiet beauty, rhythms and textures of the natural world that have inspired The Enchanted Garden, the theme for this year’s Christmas at Chatsworth.

How did this year’s theme evolve?

We plan our themes nearly 18 months ahead, and we knew we wanted Christmas to feel like a progression from The Gorgeous Nothings: Flowers at Chatsworth, our 2025 exhibition.

I spent a great deal of time in the Chatsworth Garden, simply observing how the landscape responds to the elements - the colours and textures, the movement of branches in the wind, the play of shadows on the ground, and the way dappled light filters through the trees. These quiet moments stayed with me and encouraged me to reflect on how nature can be both grounding and uplifting. That moment of clarity felt like a fitting direction for Christmas this year.

The theme grew naturally from that. The Enchanted Garden isn’t about recreating nature literally but about celebrating the feeling of being surrounded by it, its calm, its unpredictability, its sense of possibility.

How did your work on this year’s The Gorgeous Nothings: Flowers at Chatsworth exhibition shape this Christmas experience?

The Gorgeous Nothings focused strongly on nature and how people observe and respond to it - how it is a source of beauty, comfort, inspiration, and escapism. There was a natural link between this and our Christmas theme. We wanted visitors to feel a similar sense of connection and reflection, brought to life in a completely different way for the festive season.

How have you integrated the theme into Chatsworth’s historic interiors?

Chatsworth is a remarkable house, and working within a Grade I listed setting means every decision is considered. We collaborate closely with the conservation, collections and building teams to understand what each space can accommodate.

The aim is always to create something imaginative while still protecting the spaces entrusted to the charity’s care. It’s a fine balance, but it’s one we’ve built a lot of understanding of over the years.

We wanted The Enchanted Garden to be an immersive experience using natural materials throughout, as if nature were taking over the house.

In the Chapel, willow artist Emma Stothard has created willow animals and a large willow seating structure. Peak District artist, Amy Wight, has crafted a series of spiral archways featuring windblown copper oak leaves and a giant gathering of copper-leafed mistletoe suspended from the glass dome above the Oak Stairs. She has also lent us a series of spectacular giant dandelion heads, which are casting the most amazing shadows throughout the Sculpture Gallery.

How do you approach working with artists and makers?

Chatsworth has a long history of working with contemporary creatives, and it is a legacy that the Chatsworth House Trust charity is committed to continuing. We commission artists who understand both the spirit of Chatsworth and the practicalities of working within a historic environment.

We particularly like to support exceptional local artists, and within the display are handcrafted copper toadstools by Waney Grain, ceramic decorations with pressed ferns by The Wirksworth Pottery Company, and enchanting wireframe fairies by Winning Works. 

We obviously had to have fairies in an enchanted garden, and mixed reality artists, Studio McGuire, were commissioned to bring ours to life. They created a series of 13 flower fairies, each with its own name and personality, which appear as projections at various locations in the house and garden. Accompanying these are bespoke soundscapes.

Studio McGuire also created a projection on the ceiling of the Great Dining Room, and this year’s light show on the south façade of the house.

Within our team, we’re also blessed with very talented artists, who have created a miniature fairy village for The Oak Room. It features fairy houses crafted from tree trunks with tiny, illuminated windows and incredible detail. For authenticity, we’ve added silver doll’s house furniture from the Devonshire Collections. 

It’s important to give artists the freedom to be imaginative. These collaborations are one of my favourite parts of the process - everyone brings a different perspective.

Nature seems to play an emotional role in this year’s theme. Was that intentional?

Yes, though not in a heavy-handed way. Nature has a powerful ability to steady us, to help us slow down, to bring a sense of calm or joy. We wanted to acknowledge that.

Some areas invite visitors to pause; others simply create a gentle shift in atmosphere. It’s about giving people the space to experience the house and garden in their own way but also conveying the quiet beauty of midwinter.

You’ve mentioned sensory elements in past years. Is that part of the thinking again?

Sensory design can make a huge difference to how people experience a space, so it’s always part of our conversations - whether that’s through visual storytelling, suggested scents, changes in sound, or simply the materials we choose to work with.

Everything is carefully considered to ensure it enhances the experience without overwhelming it, and that it remains respectful of the house and its collections.

What do you personally find most rewarding about developing the Christmas concept?

Spending dedicated time in the garden has been incredibly rewarding - noticing small details I might otherwise walk past. But seeing the ideas take shape within the house is always a special moment. There’s a point each year when everything starts to come together and the atmosphere shifts. You can feel it.

Working on behalf of Chatsworth House Trust also creates a sense of purpose. Christmas brings thousands of people through the doors, and the income generated supports the charity’s year-round conservation work. Knowing that the experience contributes to the long-term care of Chatsworth is very meaningful.

What are you hoping visitors of all ages take away from The Enchanted Garden?

I hope that people will feel welcomed into a world that feels a little different from the everyday - somewhere imaginative, thoughtful and uplifting.

If visitors feel inspired by the house and its heritage, leave with a childlike feeling that anything is possible, or have shared a meaningful moment with family or friends, then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.