Matrescence author Lucy Jones on the deeply transformational nature of motherhood, the calm of a graveyard and what she learnt from studying slime moulds

[birds chirping] [gentle music] When was the last time you connected with a microscopic organism, met a cyanobacteria that really got you? For journalist and author Lucy Jones, it was a couple of years ago, and it helped her understand the profound impact that becoming a mother was having on her.

What I really love about this place is the lichen as well.

So you've got, it's called Cladonia lichen.

Often they'll look, it'll look like tiny little fairy cups, um, and this lovely green color.

And I could just spend literally hours just watching all this stuff.

And if you watch, you'll be able to see like red velvet spider mites.

You never know what kind of little, tiny little beasts you might see.

It's almost like stepping into, um, a king- like a, a rainforest or a kingdom.

It's just so relaxing.

I'm Chris from Canopy and Stars, and this is A Life More Wild.

Join Lucy now as she walks through her local cemetery, discussing how much society gets wrong or simply doesn't tell you about motherhood, as well as how the calming space helped her understand her new identity.