The tour will take in the fascinating experiments Charles Darwin undertook to test his theory of Evolution by means of Natural Selection, in the beautiful surroundings of his country house garden. People will explore Darwin's ‘Living Landscape Laboratory’, a celebrated and unique fascinating natural environment in which Darwin tested his theories. We will celebrate the biodiversity here, something Victorian society would have taken for granted. The tour will explore specific conservation projects initiated by English Heritage to restore species lost since the Darwins lived at Down. We will include the role Emma Darwin had in developing the gardens including the ornamental borders and Mingled Border and the Walled Garden with its fruits and vegetables which fed the large Darwin family and their staff. In the glasshouse visitors will see a wide range of tropical orchids, climbing plants and carnivorous plant which Darwin used in his botanical research.

Afterwards visitors will have the opportunity to following in Darwin’s footsteps by walking his famous ‘Thinking Path’, and come away with a renewed sense of optimism regarding conservation and the environment.

This tour has been graded as moderate access due to uneven surfaces through the garden and few places to sit down.