Lullingstone castle & the world garden
The World Garden at Lullingstone Castle
I spent the remainder of the day drawing plans, in my diary, for a World Garden – containing the plants I had collected from across the globe, planted out in their respective countries of origin. I wanted this plant filled extravaganza of a worldly garden to pay homage to the amazing achievements of plant hunters especially during the Victorian and Edwardian era, who brought back the plants and flowers we now cherish, take for granted and grow in our gardens in the UK. 80% on average, of what we grow in our gardens isn’t from the UK at all. This garden will educate human beings on the origin of a wide range of ornamentally endowed plant life. Now as I type these enthusiast’s words to you, spring 2012 is rapidly approaching and my Colombian AK-47 inspired dream is maturing just nicely. The World Garden @ Lullingstone Castle is located in a 2-acre Tudor & Victorian walled area. One-acre contains the World Garden laid out as a miniature map of the world with plants located in their correct miniature native land masses.
The other acre hosts our ‘Hot & Spikey’ Cactus House, the ‘Cloud Garden’ temperate House & spanking new in 2012, The New
The World Garden at Lullingstone Castle; round the World in Eighty Plants – and more
Last week we featured a film of Diana Hart Dyke’s garden in Hampshire including her daughter Miranda Hart. Now we are delighted to present Diana’s nephew and Miranda’s cousin Tom Hart Dyke and the scintillating World Garden that he has created at Lullingstone Castle, his historic family home in Kent. Begun in 2005, the World Garden was partially prompted by Tom’s observation, “Did you know that almost 80% of the plants commonly grown in British gardens are not native to these islands.” His creation celebrates this flow of plants from overseas and the places they originated from and was inspired by Tom’s botanical travel over many years, looking for new and rare species of various plants.
A closer look
An avid gardener since childhood, after some years of plant-hunting, Tom had his gardening enlightenment in 2000 when on an expedition in Central and South America looking for orchids, he was captured by Colombian guerrillas and held for nine months. During that time he formulated his dream of a World Garden which was begun after he was safely back in Britain. The garden celebrates the adven
Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden
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RHS Partner Garden
Free access for RHS Members at selected times
Lullingstone Castle
Lullingstone Park
Eynsford
Dartford
DA4 0JA
England
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About the garden
The World Garden is situated within a two-acre, 18th-century Walled Garden in the beautiful grounds of Lullingstone Castle, where heritage meets cutting-edge horticulture. The garden is designed as a miniature map of the world, representing North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australasia, with thousands of plant varieties showcased phytogeographically in their countries of origin.
The botanical diversity in The World Garden includes marsh orchids and double coconut-scented gorse in a springtime United Kingdom; the evergreen foliage of the National Plant Collection of
Eucalyptus
paired with a sandy-coloured Uluru (Ayers Rock); red hot pokers of South Africa standing beside a shimmering metal Baobab sculpture; rustling black bamboo contrasting with the glistening white bark of Himalayan birch; structural Mexican agaves, dasylirions and yuccas combined with salvias, dahlias and sunflowers in a vibrant mi
Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden, Sevenoaks
The World Garden is a botanical gem
set in the historic and beautiful Kent countryside, situated within the grounds of Lullingstone Castle, and dating back to the time of Domesday. Tom Hart Dyke is the curator, heir to the Estate and is the 20th generation of the family to live at the Castle. Visitors can enjoy 8,000 plant varieties planted in their respective countries of origin, the ultimate feast for the senses in every season. The World Garden won the RHS Partner Garden award for the South East region for 2022.
Day Visitors can also enjoy a light bite in the castle cafe marquee with some local Kent produce or simply enjoy a picnic by the lake. The World Garden specialist nursery stocks a wide selection of unusual plants and World Garden seeds, as well as Lullingstone honey from the beehives in the garden.
The Manor House is only open on event days & Bank Holiday weekends during the open season – see website for details.
Group Visits
Lullingstone offers guided tours of St Botolph's Church, House and The World Garden exclusively to pre-booked groups during its open season – please see website for more details.