Budding young gardeners can take a leaf out of Charles Darwin’s book this half term and try their hand at planting their own vegetable seeds in the Victorian scientist’s garden at Down House, Downe.

Head gardener Toby Beasley will show youngsters the tricks of the trade when he hosts 20-minute seed planting sessions at 11.30am and 2.30pm, on Monday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 28, to Friday, May 30.

As well as helping them to plant up small pots to take home so that they can watch them grow, Toby will also show children recreations of some of Darwin’s outdoor experiments on plants which he used to help prove his theories on evolution.

They include several in the half-acre kitchen garden where Darwin grew large amounts of fruit and vegetables - including 41 types of pea, 54 different gooseberries and 18 varieties of potato.

They can also find out about the unsavoury habits of Darwin’s favourite plants, meat-eating Sundews, which he grew and studied in the glasshouses.

Suitable for under 10s, normal admission prices apply for the seed planting sessions, which must be pre-booked and which can be built into a fascinating half-term day out at Down House.

There is plenty to see inside the house, which Darwin and his family lived in for more than 40 years, including his study packed with hundreds of original objects.

Children can discover more about evolution in an interactive exhibition where they can dig for fossils and handle bones.

For more information visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/downhouse or call 01689 859119.