As a girl, I was thrilled by the night sky. Must my son grow up without seeing the Milky Way?

‘There were nights when the skies were so clear that the only thing that you could do was stop the car and get out to marvel at them.’ Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

I was saddened to read about how light pollution is rapidly reducing the number of stars visible to the naked eye. In some locations where 250 stars are visible, it is estimated that only 100 will be visible in 18 years’ time.

Growing up in the countryside, there were nights when the skies were so clear that if you were driving you felt compelled to pull over and get out to marvel at them. The only place where I have seen stars clearer than in Snowdonia (Eryri) is on remote Greek islands, where you find yourself gazing upwards, stupefied – an effect that is increased, in my experience, by copious amounts of local booze.