Dinosaur Tree helping to Save BBC Gardener's 'World map' from Extinction

    /24-7PressRelease/ - KENT, UK, July 09, 2006 - Vikki Rimmer Press Contact 01322 866293 07886673412 [email protected]
8th July 2006

Things don't get more exciting than being given your own dinosaur! And as far as trees go, the 'Dinosaur tree' (Dinopine) (Pinosaur) or 'living fossil' the Wollemi Pine' is thought of as one of the most thrilling botanical discoveries of the 20th Century.

A stunning example of this rare and endangered Araucariaceae relative of the Monkey Puzzle tree has been donated to Tom Hart Dyke at Lullingstone Castle for planting in 'the World Garden of Plants'.
On Monday 10th July, Tom will be planting the living fossil in the Australian border within his map shaped garden at his ancestral home - the subject of 'Save Lullingstone Castle' BBC2.

Tom is fighting to save his family's ancestral home from decline and has received offers of support from across the UK.

Tom says: 'over the past two years I've been so lucky receiving plant donations from all over the UK and Ireland - and although we've been given nearly 5,000 worth of plants, nothing can beat the donation of the Wollemi for excitement! I know I get excited about plants, but the Wollemi is special. I first saw the tree in Sydney gardens on my fateful plant hunting expedition in 1999 and I've been obsessed with it ever since'.

The worldwide demand for this plant has been enormous since its discovery in 1994 by David Noble 150 miles north of Sydney Australia. Kernock Park Plants based in Cornwall are the sole licensed grower and distribution of the plant in the UK and Ireland. They have helped Kew, Birmingham City Council, the Eden project and even the Blue Peter garden to get their hands on their own Dinosaur, and now they're helping former kidnap hostage Tom Hart Dyke in his quest to save his ancestral castle from decline with his innovative 'World Garden of Plants'.
Mark Taylor of Kernock says: "We are very excited and honoured to be part of a world wide effort to bring the Wollemi Pine back from the edge of extinction and we're delighted to be able to give a helping hand in saving both Lullingstone Castle and the Wollemi Pine at the same time. We are sure that both are well on the way to recovery".

Tom Hart Dyke has spent the last couple of months planting up the rare plant species from across the world in his 'World Garden of Plants'. Education and conservation are strong themes at the garden in Kent.. Mark Taylor said: "Having a Wollemi Pine Planted in the World Garden at Lullingstone Castle is another step in two of the most amazing conservation stories of modern times and it's great to be able to bring these 2 survivors together; both Tom and the Wollemi are here it seems against all odds"
Notes to editor:

Tom Hart Dyke:
Tom Hart Dyke was kidnapped in 2000 in the Darien Gap in Panama and

contact: Press Contact PR Vikki Rimmer [email protected]

Press Contact is handling the press enquiries for the Wollemi Pine story at Lullingstone Castle.

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