All will be revealed on Saturday 22nd March 2008
When Tom unveils his new Cacti & Succulent House, World Garden, Lullingstone
by Vikki Rimmer

Tom Hart Dyke’s  all new Cacti and Succulent House,  will be unveiled on Saturday 22nd March when the World Garden opens its gates for the 2008 season. Tom’s Cacti House will contain, arguably the biggest private collection of Cacti and Succulents in the UK. Tom is busy plant up the beds.  In fact was so busy he didn’t have time to come up with a new name for the 'Cacti House'.  Tom says: 'I didn’t really know what to call it, so I threw it open to the public – and the response was brilliant – we had emails from all over the country, and in the end we picked a great name…..which we will reveal on the big day……..all I can say is: it sums up the new project well.’

The new House will contain close to 1,000 species of cacti and succulents collected by modern day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke.  Tom says: ‘'In terms of horticulture, it's going to be amazing - and it should even rival Kew!   We’ve invited Mr Cactus himself – Jim Earles from Eltham, to come and open the new House.  Jim is wonderful, an absolute expert on the ‘pricklies’, he donated thirteen Golden Barrell Cacti, thought to be extinct in the wild.’ 

Cactus Jim’s Golden balls will have pride of place in the Mexican border. The Cacti and Succulent House will be planted out in five ‘country-themed’ beds, including Mexico, The Canaries, USA and America, mirroring the theme of Tom’s famous World Garden, laid out in the shape of a map of the world. Every plant grown in the cactus house will be exclusive to that structure and won't be repeated outside in the WG itself.

The new Cacti House comes at an exciting time for the modern-day plant hunter: his book ‘An Englishman’s Home’ telling the story of the creation of the World Garden has just been printed in paper back, and last year Tom welcomed 23,000 visitors to his family house and World Garden – an astonishing achievement considering the family’s fortunes were failing in 2003 when they received a total of 2,000 visitors through the Tudor gatehouse that year.

Tom Hart Dyke’s story of kidnap and his nine month hostage ordeal in the Panamanian jungles has catapulted him into the media spotlight, but he remains faithful to his first love – horticulture; Tom says: ‘The World Garden and Lullingstone is where my tap root is firmly planted – it’s what I’m all about.  I love opening my garden to the public – and they’re always surprised to actually see me here – every weekend, getting my hands dirty, planting and weeding and selling plants in the nursery’.

The BBC 2 series ‘Return to Lullingstone Castle’ and  Tom’s subsequent books cast an interesting light on a secret corner of Kent.  Tom’s innovative garden – laid out in the shape of the map of the world, containing plants collected by himself pays tribute to the plant hunters of old and brings horticulture bang up to date with its daring plan to grow exotic blooms outside in a frosty corner of Kent.

'Mr Cactus' - Jim Earles, from Eltham - will open the new Cactus House on Saturday 22nd March - the first day of the 2008 season at Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden.

Press enquires to: Vikki@presscontact.co.uk
07886673412  or 01322 866293

Tom is available for interview

Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden open on Saturday 22nd March
details www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk Tel: 01322 862114

Garden opens: Easter to 28 Sep Fri and Sat 12-5pm, Sunday and Bank Holiday
Monday 2-6pm

Adults £6 concess: £5.50 children £3, under 5’s free

Copyright © Lullingstone Castle. Designed & Produced by dannywilkins.co.uk