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It's given us our oldest stories, made England a green and pleasant land and once a week gives suburban man a purpose. Brett Westwood investigates our obsession with grass.

It's given us our oldest stories, made England a green and pleasant land, and has even helped shape our brains. Natural Histories investigates our obsession with grass. Humans evolved in the grasslands and the major food crops (all grasses) have made us what we are. Thousands of years later it even gives suburban man an energy and a purpose through the summer.

Though not Brett Westwood, who leads us through haymeadows, wheatfields and across garden lawns to Wembley stadium in his quest to appreciate a neatly manicured piece of turf. With poetry by Philip Larkin and John Clare, and music by Beethoven, Thomas Morley and Wilson Pickett. Plus the sound of author Tim Dee, the Honda rotary mower, grass expert Howard Thomas, artists Ackroyd & Harvey, Oxford gardener Simon Bagnall, historian Oliver Cox and groundsman Karl Standley.

Produced by Melvin Rickarby

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28 minutes

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