Earth to Earth : A Natural History of Churchyards

Few spaces are as enchanting and romantic—with a touch of the tantalizingly morbid—as an churchyard. From the earliest pagan sites to modern urban cemeteries, these burial grounds have always enjoyed a sacred, protected status. Their preservation, and their removal from the day-to-day hubbub of life, have led them to become tranquil oases in which wildlife can flourish—a microcosm of the natural habitat that has long since disappeared from their surroundings. ​ In Earth to Earth: A Natural History of Churchyards , leading horticulturalist expert Stefan Buczacki reveals the many wild animals and plants that thrive among the headstones, from the graveyard beetle to the mighty yew. He also explores the history of churchyards and the landscape, and he explains what can be done to conserve them for future generations. Accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations and selected quotations, this beautiful gift book reveals the wonderful natural secrets that can be found in God’s Acre. Few spaces are as enchanting and romantic—with a touch of the tantalizingly morbid—as an churchyard. From the earliest pagan sites to modern urban cemeteries, these burial grounds have always enjoyed a sacred, protected status. Their preservation, and their removal from the day-to-day hubbub of life, have led them to become tranquil oases in which wildlife can flourish—a microcosm of the natural habitat that has long since disappeared from their surroundings.​In__Earth to Earth: A Natural History of Churchyards__, leading horticulturalist expert Stefan Buczacki reveals the many wild animals and plants that thrive among the headstones, from the graveyard beetle to the mighty yew. He also explores the history of churchyards and the landscape, and he explains what can be done to conserve them for future generations. Accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations and selected quotations, this beautiful gift book reveals the wonderful natural secrets that can be found in God’s Acre. From the earliest pagan sites to modern urban cemeteries, burial grounds have always enjoyed a sacred, protected status in the history of society. Consequently they have become tranquil oases in which wildlife can flourish – a microcosm of the natural habitat long since disappeared from the surrounding area. In Earth to Earth, Professor Stefan Buczacki uncovers the wild animals and plants that thrive amongst the headstones, from the graveyard beetle to the mighty yew. He also explores the history of churchyards and the landscape, as well as what can be done to conserve them for future generations. Accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations by Felicity Price-Smith and selected quotations, this beautiful gift book reveals the natural secrets to be found in God’s Acre.