It's not too late to take part in a tour of a world garden from the comfort of your own home.

Plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke is taking visitors on a virtual trip around the grounds at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, near Dartford.

The author and horticulturist will be sharing a potted history of growing up on site, his time spent hostage in Columbia searching for wild orchids and fulfilling his dream of creating the World Garden.

The event is being organised by the charity Hospices of Hope as part of its free virtual schedule covering a range of topics, from global concerts with world-class musicians to spa days, cookery classes and cider and beer tastings with field experts.

It was first aired earlier this month and is being made available until the end of next week.

Tom is the son and heir of Guy and Sarah Hart Dyke at the family seat of Lullingstone Castle where his creation, the World Garden of Plants is found within a two-acre Tudor and Victorian walled area.

The plant hunter hit the headlines at the turn of the Millennium when, aged 24, he was kidnapped while trekking through the Colombian rainforest by guerrillas.

He had been searching for one of the world's rarest orchids to name after his beloved Gran Mary Hart Dyke.

To cope with the major trauma during captivity he mentally planned his dream of creating the World Garden.

Unexpectedly released by his captors after 10 months, Tom returned to the UK where he set about realising his vision.

One acre contains the World Garden laid out as a miniature map of the world and contains plants collected from his trips around the globe.

To take part in a virtual tour hosted by Tom all you need to do is to register your interest to attend by going to the Hospices of Hope’s website and the charity will send registrants the Zoom details.

There is no charge for this event, but participants are encouraged to donate as a token of their appreciation.

Donations will be supporting the Hospice of Hope's vital charity work in Romania, Serbia, Moldova and Albania where it is funding medical teams, medical supplies, in-house patient care, day clinics and home visits for chronically-ill children and adults.

Anna Perolls, deputy chief executive officer of Hospices of Hope, said: “We are so grateful to Tom for giving up his time to help us provide hospice care to seriously ill adults and children.

"If you watched his video and want to see the World Garden itself, it is open until the end of October.”

Further information and enquiries about registering for the tour are available here.

The World Garden will be open to visitors until the end of October and opening times can be found here.

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