Sir Joseph Paxton was born 200 years ago, on August 3rd 1803. Chiefly remembered for being the designer of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851, his influence spread far wider. And for more than 30 years, during and after his rise to public prominence, he was the head gardener and close confidant of the 6th Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, where some of his pioneering work survives to this day.

At Chatsworth, Paxton built a series of innovative glass houses, including the Conservative Wall, which can still be seen by the current day visitor. His pioneering use of wood, iron and glass helped to create ideal environments for growing large plants collected from all parts of the globe. And the man and horse-powered machinery which he invented helped to move the huge boulders which now contribute to the Estate's spectacular rock garden.

Another of his creations, The Emperor Fountain, fed by a purpose built lake 400 feet above the garden, reached 298 feet in 1844, and remains the highest gravity-fed fountain in the world - as well as one of Britain's most photographed landmarks.

Chatsworth is planning to mark the bicentenary of Paxton's birth with an exhibition in the house, the restoration of his giant rock garden, the excavation of the coal hole and some of the underground tunnels that supplied the furnaces for his Great Conservatory. There will be additional visitor access, and the publication of a completely new garden book. And in addition to additional garden tours and a set of interpretation panels celebrating Paxton's achievements at Chatsworth, in the week leading up to his 200th birthday on August 3rd there will be late openings of the garden with floodlights and fireworks.

Visitors arriving in the county by train, meanwhile, might also be interested to note the plaque on Platform One of Derby station, commemorates the fact that Sir Joseph Paxton's original sketch for the Crystal Palace was made on a blotter here, in 1850.