Cemeteries, traditionally the domain of manicured lawns and orderly rows, are experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Across the globe, these solemn spaces are being transformed into vibrant ecosystems, embracing the concept of rewilding to foster biodiversity and offer solace to the living.

In the U.S., historic cemeteries like Brooklyn’s Green-Wood are leading this verdant revolution. By allowing grasses to grow longer and planting native wildflowers, Green-Wood has created thriving habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, as reported by the New York Times. This shift not only reduces maintenance costs but also reconnects urban dwellers with nature’s cycles.

Similarly, Mount Auburn Cemetery near Boston has reforested areas and introduced perennial plantings to support beneficial insects and provide cover for various species. These efforts have transformed parts of the cemetery into woodland sanctuaries, offering visitors a sense of continuity between life and death.

Across the Atlantic, the Church of England oversees approximately 17,500 acres of churchyards. Bishop Graham Usher of Norwich advocates for rewilding these spaces, suggesting that areas be left unmown to allow rare plant species to flourish, enhancing biodiversity while honoring cemeteries’ sacred purpose.

“My dream is that churchyards will be places of the living, not just the dead,” Usher told The Guardian.

However, not all rewilding efforts have been met with enthusiasm. In Weymouth, Dorset, a council’s decision to let grass grow tall in cemeteries sparked controversy, according to the BBC. Grieving families found it difficult to locate loved ones’ graves amid the overgrowth, leading to feelings of neglect and disrespect. The council maintained that the initiative aimed to promote biodiversity, but the backlash highlighted the delicate balance required when implementing such projects.

Despite occasional resistance, the trend toward rewilding cemeteries is gaining momentum. These initiatives not only provide ecological benefits but also offer the living a more dynamic and comforting environment to remember the departed. As these spaces bloom with life, they remind us that endings can also be beginnings, and that nature, much like memory, thrives when allowed to grow wild.