A sea of gravestones etched with the names of lost loved ones might not be what you would picture when you imagine a nature reserve.
But Manchester City Council plans to give Southern Cemetery in south Manchester, which is the largest cemetery in the UK, that official title.
According to Natural England, it will be one of just 10 graveyard nature reserves in England. And it is part of a bigger plan in Manchester to put cemeteries "on the map" for nature-loving urbanites.
So just how wild can a burial ground be?
David Barlow, who leads the environmental strategy team for the local authority, says cemeteries are "hidden gems".
"They're lovely places for wildlife," he told the BBC.
Mr Barlow and his council colleagues have the power to "officially designate" an area a nature reserve.
But to have the support of Natural England, the government body that sets the definition of a national nature reserve, they must demonstrate that the proposed site is "special" in terms of the flora and fauna it harbours, and that the council is working to protect it.
Posts
