Tom Hart Dyke - Plant hunter and creator of the World Garden

Tom Hart Dyke shot to international prominence in 2000, when he was kidnapped at gunpoint while on a plant hunting expedition searching for orchids in Central America.

For nine months he was held hostage in the Colombian jungle by armed guerrillas and regularly threatened with execution.

Whilst in captivity Tom dreamt of creating a garden containing plants collected from all corners of the world, to be housed within the two-acre walled garden at his home - the 15th century Lullingstone Castle in Kent.

Since his release, Tom’s experiences have been the subject of two television documentaries, his best selling book ‘The Cloud Garden’ (2003) and the story behind BBC2’s popular series 'Save Lullingstone Castle', and 'Return to Lullingstone Castle', produced by Keo Films (look under 'Documentary' to view clips).

'The Cloud Garden' is on sale at Lullingstone.