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As a symbol of Eternity, ivy is found in most churchyards. To grow, it absorbs carbon dioxide, water vapour and oxygen through the leaves and converts them to plant material, recycling oxygen into the atmosphere as a by-product. It does not eat stone. However, as shown here, it can grow onto sandstone: the rootlets burrow into the clay cement between the grains of sand of the stone surface, making it weak and crumbly. Ripping away the ivy would bring away some stone surface with it, so nowadays chemical herbicides are used to check the growth of ivy or remove it from monuments. (Photo Aug 2007).