Family-owned Lullingstone Castle, run by the Hart Dyke family, has a lot to look forward to this year following a successful 2011. Heir to the castle, Tom Hart Dyke was one of 200 guests who attended a celebration at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the centenary of R.F Scott's 1911 Antartic Expedition.
Born in Kent in 1976, Tom is heir to Lullingstone Castle and is the 20th generation of the Hart Dykes to love at the castle. The Castle was a favourite of Queen Anne and was visited by a young Henry VIII. Tom shot to international prominence in 2000 when he was kidnapped in the Panamanian jungle on a plunt hunting expedition that went dangerously wrong. Tom and his travelling companion, Paul Winder, were taken hostage whole trekking through 'The Darlen Gap', a dangerous place abandoned by all to warring guerrilla factions. Tom and Paul were held for nine months and threatened with execution but luckily, were released in time for Christmas in December 2000.
Lullingstone Castle hosts the UK's first ever 'World of Garden Plants' containing plants from around the globe, planted in their respective countries of origin and is the vision of modern day plant hunter Tom. Another exciting project for the family business is the filming of their first ever TV commercial in the grounds of the castle.
Much to look forward to for this incredible Kent family business.
Follow us on: