Lullingstone Castle

Tom Hart Dyke, Lullingstone Castle and the World Garden of Plants

Welcome to Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden of Plants,
home of The National Collection of Eucalyptus & scene of BBC 2’s ‘Save Lullingstone Castle’ & 'Return to Lullingstone Castle' where heritage meets cutting edge horticulture.

Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the time of Domesday.

The present Manor House and Gate house were built in 1497 and have been home to the same family ever since. Both Henry VIII and Queen Anne are known to have been regular visitors.

Where cutting edge horticulture meets plant heritage thanks to a nine month kidnap ordeal in Colombia in the year 2000.

Tom Hart Dyke’s innovative World Garden, laid out in the shape of a map of the World, pays tribute to the plant hunters of old and brings horticulture bang up to date with it’s daring plan to grow exotic blooms, outside, in the Garden of England.

Highlights from Tom's Diary Dates for 2010 - full listings here

In April, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in April, FREE guided tour of the World Garden at 3pm. Also in April, the Karmann Ghia car rally

In May, the famous Lullingstone Plant Fair

In June, the Flower Festival and National Garden Scheme

In July, the Europa sculpture unveiling AND Plant Hunter weekend celebrating William Lobb

In August it's Dahlia weekend

In September the popular Plant Fair organized by the Hardy Plant Society

And in October, Lullingstone's Annual Guest Lecture with Head Tree Man of Kew Gardens - Tony Kirkham