September is here, the days are shortening and the temperature is dropping, autumn is around the corner. This month our focus is leaf piles! 'Leaf' them in the garden!
Good for wildlife, good for soil
Leaves and leaf piles don’t have to be “messy”… they’re mini wildlife sanctuaries. Instead of disposing of fallen leaves, leave them wherever possible and when they are in a place that needs clearing, simply gather them into a quiet corner of your garden, under a shrub, along a hedge line, or anywhere they can be left undisturbed.
The range of wildlife that will utilise them is astonishing, from dormice to grass snakes and slow worms to caterpillars- these guys love leaves! They can be used to build nests, to hide amongst, or even as a cosy curled up blanket to overwinter within.
Leaves act as an important material that not only wildlife uses! As leaves break down they become organic matter and eventually soil, within this process they add nutrients, helping to fuel growth and mycelium networks.
