Extraordinary Journey Develops into an Innovative Visitor Attraction!
February 1, 2006: Well known former hostage, horticulturist and now, Tourist Attraction Manager, Tom Hart Dyke, was filmed last week back in the classroom for a BBC television documentary- stage three of an extraordinary personal journey.
Mr Hart Dyke was held hostage for nine months in the Columbian Jungle in South America. As a way of coping with the ever present threat of death from the Panamanian guerrillas that captured him, he used his time to design a very special garden for his family home, Lullingstone Castle in Kent, which he vowed to create if he was ever released.
Happily, he was released in 2000 and spent a year fulfilling his dream of building the garden using plants from all over the world. The 'World Garden' has now opened to the public and the next stage of Tom's journey has begun - attracting the customer.
In order to make this innovative creation a success Tom Hart Dyke has headed back to the classroom to learn how to promote his product effectively. Tom has signed up to Tourism South East's (TSE) 'Welcome E-learning' project (funded by SEEDA and the ESF*) through which he can attend a course free of charge. The TSE Training Services Team is the lead national organisation for tourism training in the UK, delivering over 5000 training days per year.
A BBC television documentary is currently being filmed about the evolution of the garden and last week footage was shot of Tom attending the TSE Smarter Marketing course and learning - at the Hop Farm Country Park, Paddock Wood, in Kent - with other tourism delegates about key marketing principles and the importance of the web. The documentary will consist of 12 thirty minute episodes which will be shown on the BBC in two series. The first will be shown in Spring 2006. Tom will be working towards accreditation to the 'Partners in Success' scheme which will also be filmed for the documentary.
Tom Hart Dyke said "It has been a long journey with many highs and lows. Now I have created my dream garden I wish to share it with everyone. By attending TSE's Smarter Marketing course I have learnt about the marketing and e-business strategies needed to make the 'World Garden' a success. I hope to implement this knowledge and attract people to come to Lullingstone Castle and enjoy the pleasure of the garden."
~Ends~
For further information contact Jodie Hodge, TSE Corporate Communications on
023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com
or
Tom Hart Dyke, Lullingstone Castle on 01322 862114
Notes to Editor and Photographs
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
*The 'Welcome E-Learning' project is co-financed by the South East Regional Development Agency (SEEDA) and the European Social Fund (ESF) and as such business eligibility criteria apply. The course aims to raise levels of managerial and entrepreneurial skills so that tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses can become more competitive. The project is tailored around the needs of every individual business that joins up in order for them to gain maximum benefit.
The Smarter Marketing course is part of the 'Welcome E-Learning' project. It teaches businesses the importance of the web, providing information and advice on using the internet effectively with particular attention paid to smaller businesses.
The Partners in Success scheme (also part of the Welcome E-Learning project) is designed to help service sector businesses in South East England to adopt good employment and business development practices - and to succeed in a highly competitive business environment.
For a copy of the photograph below of: Tom Hart Dyke with Michelle Grant, Training Projects Manager at the TSE, please contact: Jodie Hodge, TSE Corporate Communications on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com
Or Julian Demetriadi on 01725 552 835 or apostrophe@communicationspoint.net
brings all aspects of the environment, rural matters, farming and food production together
is a focal point for all rural policy, relating to people, the economy and the environment
has roles in both European Union and global policy making, so that its work has a strong international dimension
The seminar key speakers will be:
Sue Scott from Raceaway Project Management will be speaking on FBAS (Farm Business Advice Bureau) and research into access that she has recently undertaken for TSE.
Roger Seed of Seed Consulting will be talking about the opportunities that tourism can bring, Gillian van der Meer from the Rural and Cultural Forum will describe the opportunities from access
Geoff Newsome of Defra RDS will outline current funding and future changes.