I lived within 30 minutes’ drive of Charles Darwin’s house for the whole of my childhood. It’s been open to the public since it was acquired by English Heritage in 1998. I’ve been a biologist of sorts for about 18 years.

It’s taken me until today to actually visit Down House, and to wander down the famous sandwalk behind the house, where Darwin used to do his thinking. I am a very bad, and very lazy boy. Also a very lucky one to have a husband prepared to schlepp to yet another greenhouse.