The Plans for the garden were drawn up in my diary while I was held captive in the jungle by Colombian Guerrillas for nine months in 2000. I remember the fateful day well.
 | | Tom's initial Jungle plan |
It was 16th July and the guerrillas came and told me and Paul (my travelling companion and fellow kidnappee Paul Winder) that we would be executed that very night. They told us to prepare to die and left us alone for the afternoon. Paul spent the afternoon in prayer and I got out my notebook and drew the plans for a garden that would contain plants collected from across the globe, planted out in their respective countries of origin. The oblong beds and borders bear little resemblance to my next plan for the garden which I drew up when I was safely back home in Kent. I took my ‘world map’ shaped plan down to my friend Adam S Bailey, a garden designer from Eynsford, and he agreed to help me turn the plan into a full architectural plan. June 2004
 | | The original herb garden |
The old herb garden has been tended by my Gran, who I call ‘crac’, for twenty years, and it’s an emotional day when we decide to go ahead with the plans for the World Garden and take out all the old roses, poppies and apple trees from within the walled garden at Lullingstone. September 2004 In a bid to find some cheap labour we employed two pigs – Red and Wooly – named after the two worst pests to affect my beloved orchids. I named them ‘red and wooly’ in a n attempt not to get to attached to the pigs. However, I grew to love th ‘piggies’ and were very impressed with the way they cleared Queen Anne’s Ice House of vegetation. September 2004 – we clear the garden
 | | Tom and his two pigs, Red and Wooly |
I roped in all my friends from Sparsholt College to come and help me clear the Herb Garden. We spent two long hard days clearing all the apple trees, and building giant bonfires which we would light on the Sunday evening. Burning the old to make way for the new was emotional but exciting too. We held a barbecue and burnt the old garden and welcomed in the new idea with a firework display. January 2005
 | | Tom and the diggers |
The diggers moved into the garden – another momentous day as the huge machines rolled into the old herb garden. I was given a hard hat and allowed to drive one of the diggers – it was great fun. The contractors worked hard through all weathers – even when the snow came. February 2005 Slowly the garden began to take shape. Large rocks were brought down from Scotland to form the shapes of the countries. March 2005 March 16th 2005
 | | Tom and Paul planting the Agarve America |
A special day for me as Paul Winder – my fellow travelling partner and kidnap victim – visited me, on the anniversary of the day we were kidnapped, to plant the first plant in the garden. The Agarve Americana was planted by Paul and I in Mexico – the place where we first met. The World From above. Now that the world was fully shaped the only thing left to do is- THE PLANTING! Easter 2005
 | | No plants! |
We opened to the public on a warm sunny Easter Weekend. The public were very kind and supportive and didn’t seem to mind the fact that I had a garden with no plants! July 16th 2005 The World Garden Opening Party Perhaps the most momentous of all the momentous days of the journey, as I open the garden party, held to thank all the friends and contractors who have made my dream a reality. More importantly I get the chance to thank my parents, sister and my beloved Gran ‘Crac’ for getting me to this point. Gran opened the garden – Gran is my horticultural inspiration and the one who started me on my horticultural adventures aged 3 with a packet of carrot seeds. She truly sowed the seeds of my gardening obsession.
 | | Tom presents his Gran with the penstemon |
I was able to give Gran a big surprise on the day too with the unveiling of ‘Crac’s Delight’ a Penstemon plant that I had found in Mexico and named in her honour. August 2005 Building Ayres Rock November 2005 I won the Guild of UK Travel Writers Tourism Award for best new tourist attraction in the UK. | 
