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Garden Name: Lullingstone Castle
Last Modified: 12/01/2011
Garden ID: 0566

pic: 0566_LullingstoneCastle.jpg

Owner: Tom Hart Dyke
Address:
World Garden at Lullingstone Castle
Eynsford

Postcode: DA4 0JA
County: Kent

tel: 01322-862114
fax: 01322 862115
website: www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk
email: info {at} lullingstonecastle.co.uk

Features: 
Plants planted in their respective countries of origin in a 3D world map-shaped garden as featured on TV.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
1st Apr - end Sept; Fri & Sat; 12noon - 5pm; Sun and BHs. 2pm - 6pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Apr- Sept

To see: 
Exotic plants from around the world

National Collection: 
Eucalyptus

National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 13thJune

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: By prior arrangement for min. 20 people. Wed or Thurs.
House and Garden open exclusively for pre-booked groups on Weds and Thurs during season.

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Sat - Sun; 11.00am - 5pm on event days
Bank Holiday weekends 2-6pm

Admission Prices:
Adult £7; Child £4; Over 60s £6.50; Family £18;

HHA members free
2 for 1 entry to English Heritage members on production of EH membership card.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: No
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: No
Teas: No
Refreshments: No
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
April - Guided Tours of the World Garden, every Friday (except Good Friday), Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday in the month, 2pm
Lullingstone Plant Fair, 15th May, 11am - 5pm
National Gardens Scheme, 19th June, 11am - 5pm
Plant Hunters' Weekend, 30th and 31st July, 11am - 5pm
Celebration of Salvias Weekend, 20th and 21st August, 11am - 5pm
Flower Arranging Weekend, 9th, 10th and 11th September, 11am - 5pm
Rolls Royce Car Rally, 25th September, 11am - 5pm
Lullingstone Guest Lecture with Fergus Garrett, 22nd October (ticket only)


Designer: Tim Hart Dyke and Adam S. Bailey
Description of Garden:
Tom Hart Dyke's garden has progressed rapidly from a curiosity to a fully-fledged realistion of one of the most ambitious projects any private garden has undertaken under its own steam in the UK since, probably, the Edwardian era over 100 years ago. The remarkable genesis of the idea happened when Tom Hart Dyke was held captive for 9 months by Colombian bandits when a plant-hunting expedition went badly wrong, through no fault of his own. After his release, the extraordinary difficulties he encountered in building his creation in the walled garden of his family home, and his eventual triumph over them against considerable odds, were charted in a highly successful BBC2 series shown in 2005, avidly watched by lovers of English eccentricity all over the country. 

Nearly 9,000 species of plants from all over the world have since been added to the garden which is laid out in an (approximate) map of the world with the plants located in their countries of origin so that the public can see from which parts of the world the plants emanate. No doubt many people will be surprised to discover that their favourite plants actually come from far more exotic locations than they would imagine.

The garden is now well worth visiting, even from distant parts of the UK, such is the extraordinary layout and the boundless enthusiasm of its owner, and it can only get better!


History: 
Construction began in earnest in 2004 and Phase One was completed in July 2005. Apart from the 8,000 species he has added, the garden now boasts a National Collection of Eucalyptus which includes the now-famous Caesia "Silver Princess" which Tom has managed to nurture into flowering in what is believed to be the first time ever in UK horticultural history.

Local Inns: 
The Plough, Eynsford

Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Eynsford, Kent