Why we should all dig into poo – all you need is a spoon

Cowpats in a Cambridge meadow offer vital lessons in how a host of tiny creatures sustain our planet

Summer is ending, and Coe Fen meadow in Cambridge is entering a period of slumber. The cows are sheltering under a tree, whisking away flies and defecating as they lie down. Spring's succulent grasses have been supplanted by scruffier dock leaves, thistles and nettles. Berries on the trees and the reddening of leaves show that autumn is waiting backstage.

We are exploring the delights of faeces and the little ecosystems inside them. Cowpats are the obvious choice because of their abundance, and they are also the least offensive on offer.