The Green Man

Kathleen Basford’s study examines the Green Man as the leafy or foliate head found widely in medieval church carvings. It considers how medieval ideas about nature shaped the image, while tracing associated themes of death, rebirth and resurrection. Folklore and mythology surrounding trees provide a wider context for understanding the motif and its possible meanings.

Illustrated with photographs and drawings, the book considers examples of Green Man carvings as evidence of a recurring visual tradition rather than a single fixed figure. Basford also relates the image to changing attitudes towards the natural world, connecting medieval symbolism with later interest in ecology and humanity’s relationship with nature. An index supports further study of the subject.