Record Visitor Numbers flock to Lullingstone Castle - home of the famous 'World Garden'.Yesterday (Sunday 6th May 2007) record numbers of visitors piled through the gates of Lullingstone Castle to attend Tom Hart Dyke's first personal plant fair.

BBC Gardener Tom Hart Dyke declared 'we've not received numbers of visitors like this since the days of the silk farm in the 1950s! It's amazing!'

Steve Bradley from The Sun and perennial favourites
- Andy Garland and Trevor Claringbold of BBC Radio Kent broadcast their popular 'Gardening Show' live from the Castle from 8am-11am, chornicalling the setting up of the big event.


Chelsea Gold medal winners from across the South East were in attendance; Iris of Sissinghurst, The Old Walled Garden, Derek Lloyd Dean, Riverside Fuschias, McBean's Orchids and Rotherview Nursery were among the exhibitors on the day.

Iris of Sissinghurst dispatched a van back down the A21 back to Sissinghurst at 12 noon when half the stall was stripped bare by voracious plant hunters. More Iris's were needed. And quick!

The refreshments were besieged by the multitude of visitors and the sellers even sold their own lunch to the hungry punters.

An orderly queue, four deep, stretched all the way from the house down the driveway to the gatehouse as visitors waited to gain entrance to the famous Castle - a favourite of Henry VIII and Queen Anne.

Visitors were keen to meet the family who are well known to BBC2 viewers from both series; 'Save Lullingstone Castle' and 'Return To Lullingstone Castle'.

The publicity for the event was handled by Vikki Rimmer/ Press Contact. Publicity ranged across all media and included The Telegraph, all Kent media and Radio Kent. Garden's Monthly were the events sponsors.