Nestled within suburban London is a picturesque necropolis housing the graves of both the famous and the forgotten. Spanning over 12 acres and containing thousands of graves, Highgate Cemetery is perhaps most popular for its celebrity residents, such as philosopher Karl Marx and novelist Douglas Adams. The cemetery has wormed its way into pop culture with rumors that the recently deceased George Michael will be buried there alongside his mother. However, the park itself boasts a rich history, and has been a striking piece of London for nearly two centuries. Highgate Cemetery’s overgrown flora, beautiful graves, and thriving wildlife makes it a breathtaking destination for anyone interested in rethinking their relationship with death. London in the 19th century was a minefield of dead cholera patients and plague victims. After a population boom in the early 1800’s, an already corpse-ridden London faced a dilemma: more living residents means more dead bodies. As a result, “Graveyards and burial grounds were crammed in between shops, houses and taverns — wherever there was space.” (“History,” Highgate Cemetery) Eventually, the stench became so unbearable and the health risks became so great that Parliament …show more content…
One can find rabbits, hedgehogs, foxes, butterflies, and birds flitting from tombstone to tombstone, though they tend to stay away from visitors. Over 40 species of birds can be seen gliding between the trees, perhaps perching on a grave to inspect the moss or sheltering itself inside a mausoleum. Foxes scamper through the shrubbery. Volunteers and local beekeepers set up insect habitats to house and protect the invertebrate population. The grounds could be mistaken for a simple forest wildlife reserve if it weren’t for the thousands of gravestones and memorials rooted amongst the oaks and ancient