Green man welcomes Spring

This 'Green Man' carving at Longdon Church looks out from a Norman column - which makes him 1000 years old, almost.  The church is remarkable, not just for this figure but a number of sights, and is worth a visit.

Incidentally, that is not a huge handlebar moustache that he sports (though it looks like that!) - it is vegetation, growing ivy-like, from his mouth.  He is a symbol of Spring and re-growth.

The Green Man grins

Yes, Spring has sprung!  There are green buds appearing everywhere; and the birds are making a huge racket, and running around grabbing bits of garden debris for their nests.
There is even the sound of lawn-mowers in the air - a sure sign of Spring.

Under the circumstances, a photo of a grinning Green Man (from the doorway arch at Wolstanton Church) is very apt.

Spring's green man

This Green Man figure is to be found on the archway into Blithfield Hall.  He is a symbol of the natural world, and of Spring.

It is curious how popular the green-man is - and how often it appears in statuary.