You’d think Tom Hart Dyke wouldn’t want to be surrounded by orchids, as they would be a reminder of the dark days.

Tom was kidnapped in the Colombian jungle with his friend Paul and held for three months back in 2000, while on an expedition to collect rare orchids.

During the nine month ordeal the British Embassy gave the boys up for dead and on what was due to be his execution day, he spent time thinking about creating a world garden – complete with orchids.

However, the pair were released and Tom, now 40, went on to create the garden, but it has taken him until now to include the beautiful flowers that it all started with.

An orchid house with some 200 varieties will be opened at his family home, Lullingstone Castle this weekend.

Tom said: “It’s all a bit brilliant, really. It’s where it all started. I’ve been doing the World Garden for 11 years but now to have orchids is the icing on the cake. It is a bit of a trip down memory lane.

“Some of the orchids are the same species that I was trying to get when I was captured.

'I’m not going back to get any more orchids. I have learnt my lesson!'

“But I’m not going back to get any more orchids. I have learnt my lesson!

“It’s our first proper orchid house. They are looking great. They’re all a bit expensive and a bit different.

“Some of them look great, the foliage is glossy and attractive. And with some it’s like you’ve walked into a Lush shop, they smell so strongly.”

The project has taken around a year to fully get off the ground and many of the plants have been donated from central and south America. Some though may not to everyone’s taste: one, Bulbo Phyllum, smells of corpses.

Although not a full time job for Tom these days, as he is in demand for talks and speeches, you can still find him pottering most days. He was bitten by the gardening bug – and in particular, the orchid bug – early on.

He said: “Me and granny used to go on the nearby golf course and see the native ones. It all stems from there really.

“I’m not an expert in anything. I’ve just picked it up. If you’ve got passion and enthusiasm for it you absorb it like a sponge.”

“Plus it came about through constructive criticism from World Garden visitors who have told me they expected to see an orchid house! It is a way of life. It is my life and I love it.”

Tom has chosen his father, Guy Hart Dyke, to carry out the official opening of the orchid house this weekend.

“He hasn’t opened anything, I thought it was about time he did something,” said Tom.

“It will be great fun. It is about family. We have also had so much support locally.”

DETAILS

Lullingstone Castle’s first orchid weekend and official opening of the orchid house will be held this weekend, Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22.

The opening will be carried out by Guy Hart Dyke at 1pm on Saturday, May 21.

The orchid house features around 200 varieties of temperate orchid and a selection of tropical fruits, mostly from the wild.

Set within 120 acres, the castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, with a historic family mansion frequented by Henry VIII and Queen Anne. There is a cafe marquee.

The castle will be open between 11am and 5pm on both days.

For entry and further details visit lullingstonecastle.co.uk