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The green man

Spring is unmistakeably - and finally - turning to summer in Britain. As the seasons turn, embrace your inner pagan.

Richard Hayman's book The Green Man, published by Shire Books in June 2010, celebrates the many representations of faces sprouting foliage found all over Britain. They are believed by many people to be pagan in origin, but often adorn churches, abbeys and cathedrals. This green man can be found on the choir stalls at St Peter's church in Wintringham, North Yorkshire. Credit: Shire Publications
Green men were particularly popular during the medieval period, when they seem to have have been used by Christian architects to represent demons or monsters. This example is from Norwich cathedral and dates from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Credit: Mike Hayward / Alamy
Another brightly painted example of a green man, from All saints church in Worcestershire, circa the 1870s. Green men men became hugely popular during the eighteenth century Gothic revival, when many medieval buildings were rebuilt and restored. Credit: Shire Publications
The Green Man Festival at Clun in Shropshire is held annually on May bank holiday. It includes a re-enactment of the battle between the "green man" and "frost queen", said to symbolise the overcoming of winter by spring. Credit: Shire Publications
A green man with a pink mouth, at Warwick Folk Festival in 2008. Many choose to believe the figure is pagan in origin, though the use of greenery to represent good or evil accords with Christian tradition. Credit: Colin Underhill/Alamy
This flowery fellow is one of many richly decorated faces in Norwich cathedral. Like many other churches and cathedrals, Norwich's carvings are found not in the main body of the church, but decorating more minor spaces like the cloisters. Credit: Sid Frisby / Alamy
A grotesque green man, from the roof of a church in Queen Camel, Somerset. From the fifteenth century onward there was a move away from naturalism to more devilish figures. Credit: Shire Publications
Green men carvings can also be found on church furnishings, particularly choir stalls. The term "green man" was coined in the 1930s, despite the fact few are actually green and many are animals. This fourteenth-century example from All Saints church in Hereford is an ape. Credit: Shire Publications
An nineteenth century choir stall carving in Tideswell church, Derbyshire. By this time green men were appearing on secular as well as religous buildings, suggesting that they had become chiefly decorative rather than moral.
The green man provides inspiration at The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. Credit: Holmes Garden Photos / Alamy
The prevalence of the green man in British culture can be seen in the number of pubs named after him. This is the Green Man pub in Ewell village, Surrey. Credit: Art Directors & TRIP / Alamy
A classic example of the "disgorging" green man, who spews vegetation from his mouth. Credit: Shire Publications
The green man lends his name to ethically minded music event The Green Man Festival, held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. This enormous grass sculpture was built for the 2009 festival. Credit: Westmacott / Alamy
A very crude green man carving, dating from the twelfth century, found at Dumbleton church, Gloucestershire. Cat-like carvings with devilish pointed ears are common. Credit: Shire Publications
The foliage in this fourteenth-century carving at Finedon church, Northamptonshire, seems to be pulling the pained figure's lips apart. Credit: Shire Publications
The green man has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the past fifty years. This carving can be found on the Wyndham Arms pub in Salisbury. Credit: Art Directors & TRIP / Alamy
A trio of green men on a tower arch in Belgrave, Leicestershire. They date from the fourteenth century. Credit: Shire Publications
Another green man wannabe celebrates the spring in Trafalgar Square, London. Unless otherwise credited, all images in this gallery are courtesy of Shire Books. You can buy The Green Man here. Credit: Vibrant Pictures / Alamy