The dogs are obviously operating on Berlin time as they are waking up at around 5 am these days. This morning I couldn't get back to sleep after letting them out for their first comfort break of the day, so got up and decided to take the early train to work. Walking through the Victorian cemetery that lies between home and the station at 6 am, I could barely hear myself think because of the cacaphony coming from the trees and bushes - this really was a dawn chorus to remember. It reminded me of the incredible wildlife value of some of our historic graveyards - an aspect that is often forgotten by those of us who live busy lives, rushing from place to place and rarely taking the time to stop, look, listen and celebrate the ordinary. Fortunately, there are some community groups who are beginning to take an interest in managing historic graveyards for both their cultural and natural heritage interest. In York there is a long established group who run education programmes for local schools using the city's graveyards as a resource to teach lessons on, for instance, biology or local history (the Victorians - a classic topic at Key Stage 2 in English schools). And in Bradford, moves are afoot to encourage much more public engagement with the city's fine Undercliffe Cemetery.
So next time you are passing a graveyard, pop in and see what you can learn!
