Around the World with Tom Hart-Dyke

Tom Hart-Dyke first came to the world's attention in 2000 when he and a fellow plant-hunter, Paul Winder were kidnapped by armed guerrillas in the notoriously dangerous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama.

Three months into their ordeal, on 16th June, the two men were told to prepare for their execution later that evening. Paul spent the day in prayer, while Tom planned his "dream garden" containing plants from all over the world. The beds were in the shape of the world's land masses and to be constructed in the walled herb garden at his home, 15th century Lullingstone Castle.

The threatened execution didn't happen, and after nine months in captivity, the two British men were unexpectedly released just before Christmas. Since then, Tom has been the subject of three television documentaries and his dream, now called the World Garden has been made reality.

Now that he is safely back in his beloved Kent, we have invited Tom to share one of his favourite driving routes, and today we are to travel in a vintage Land Rover. We meet Tom at the Tudor gatehouse of Lullingstone Castle. He is tall, (almost too tall for his trousers which are patched with what looks like bicycle tyre patches) and possesses a handsome, open face and disarmingly friendly manner.

The Land Rover is owned by Nick Leadbeter, a charming off-road enthusiast who in between driving across inhospitable places around the world, has what he calls his dream job, running the Diesel Centre with his partners in Staplehurst. "We're following a route through the Darent Valley, that I used to cycle on my pushbike. This is where I've grown up, where I have my tap root. Mum and Dad were incredibly chilled, they just used to let me go off exploring. Sometimes I didn't even come back at night, I just camped in one of the fields, but they were really relaxed about it. I used to go off with my chainsaw on my back – I had my tree-surgeon's chainsaw licence before I ever had a driving licence. These bluebell woods are amazing, and that fishing lake is part of the estate. I have friends who have grown up with just a window box and I realise how lucky I have been."

Coincidentally, our Land Rover has driven across the Darién Gap where Tom was snatched. "We could have done with one of these trusty things there. I felt so embarrassed after we were captured, we'd been told it was dangerous and yet we still went. By December, Paul's parents were so convinced he was dead, they arranged his memorial service. When we were released his family were so excited, they forgot to tell the priest. The poor man telephoned to say that everything was ready at the church and Paul answered the phone. Paul was so shocked! But then, when we were in the jungle we told ourselves that our families were dead too, it was just a way of coping."

We continue our drive, past Lullingstone Roman villa and Eagle Heights bird of prey sanctuary. We follow the river that flows across the road into the village of Eynsford, where Tom went to school. There is a bridge over the water but Nick is determined that we should drive through the deep ford.

We launch into the water, the momentum of the vehicle creating a terrific bow wave. Once on the other side we laugh as water streams in over Tom's legs. Nick forgot to close the heating vents and the water is accompanied by a strong steamy smell.

"I used to cycle into the village and stop at the sweet shop on the corner there. The family who own it have been supplying sweets to the lucky children of Eynsford for more than 20 years. I used to go fishing for tiddlers in the ford too. I never thought I'd be driving through it like this."

Back at the castle, Stephen Phillips of Perfect Catering is waiting for us with picnic hampers. As the weather is rather chilly, Tom invites us to eat our lunch in the "Hot and Spikey" cacti house that he and a team of volunteers have recently created. We walk through the World Garden, Tom's homage to the Victorian and Edwardian plant hunters who brought back so many of the plants that we grow in our gardens today. Inside the cactus house he bustles off to find chairs, but before we can eat he is distracted by the plants. Then we're off to the glasshouses where he nurtures exotica for the World Garden and the cacti collection.

The effect of the plants on their collector is immediate. Tom bounces on his heels as he shows us some of his favourites. We see the crimson blooms of the Lobster Claw tree from New Zealand and the Eucalyptus Caesia ‘Silver Princess' that Tom coaxed into flower in 2006 – the first time it had bloomed in the UK. He's self-taught, and the latin names and growing requirements of each plant flow from him without pause. I can see why he's been called the new David Bellamy. His whole body has become animated with enthusiasm and when he introduces us to the plants he says "Come and meet this cheeky little feller" or "Isn't she magnificent?" I ask if he talks to the plants and he shoots me a look. I know the answer to the question before I have even finished asking it.

Why has he chosen cacti? "I feel they're neglected these days. Cacti were often the first plants that children had. Then people lost interest. But they're such amazing things, with incredible stories to tell. Our oldest one was grown from seed in 1921, and that one, the Horse Crippler, I fell on it a while ago and the needles went right through the cartilage and bone in my kneecap. Septicaemia set in and it still looks a bit of a mess, but it's only the plant trying to protect itself."

Finally, we eat our delicious lunch. Stephen's brother, Richard, the chef and co-proprietor at Thackeray's in Tunbridge Wells has provided us with masses of sandwiches as well as olives, chickpeas with chorizo, mozzarella salad and homemade cookies. Just listening to Tom's adventures has given us all a tremendous appetite. I ask about Tom's family and he tells me that to keep the house going his parents opened it to the public when he was a child. "They were very busy and Mum always did everything, making and serving the teas and so on, so I became quite self-sufficient and happy in my own company."

What about his beloved grandmother? "Ooh, she kicked it all off. She gave me a packet of seeds when I was three, and that was it, I was hooked." Is she a gardener too? "She is now, but really, Granny is a botanical artist. My grandfather travelled all over the world preaching Christianity, so wherever they went, Granny drew and painted the flora and fauna. She's 94 now and still amazingly independent. We all work together as a great team, but the Hart-Dyke's are sort of known for being independent-minded." – There it is. The explanation for Tom's missionary zeal. It really is in the blood.

It's time to go, but so entrancing is this young man, none of us really want to say goodbye. I can see that we're all hanging on for one more story and Tom is too polite to dismiss us, though I know he has hours of work to do. Reluctantly, we leave Tom to his plants, but I think we will all be returning soon. That kind of enthusiasm is infectious and I seem to have acquired a new found interest in cacti...

The Wealden Times Driving Test:

Tom Hart-Dyke

Owns:

Vauxhall Astra estate 1.6.

Dream Car:

Don't have one, as long as it can get from A to B and has some space for plants, all is fine and dandy, the Astra is perfect!!

Dream Passenger:

Geoff Hamilton, although he sadly died in 1996.

Dream Driver:

None

While Driving Listens to:

Gangstar Rap

Loves the Weald (Darent Valley) for:

Its supreme pacifying beauty on the edge of Greater London – my taproot is definitely here!

Would Hope to Find the Weald (or DV) in 100 Years Time:

With the World Garden, cactus house and Lullingstone still here.