Leave The Leaves!

As autumn arrives and gardens fill with colourful leaves, resist the urge to clear them all away. They provide food, shelter and vital nutrients for wildlife and soil...

There is something magical about kicking through a carpet of autumn leaves. Crunchy, colourful and wonderfully seasonal, they are one of the signs that summer is finally giving way to cooler days.

But while grown-ups might see fallen leaves as something to rake up and remove, children can learn that they are actually an important part of nature's recycling system. So, this autumn, why not leave a few leaves where they fall?

A mini wildlife hotel

A layer of fallen leaves provides an important hiding place for all sorts of tiny creatures. Beetles, woodlice, spiders, worms and other minibeasts can shelter beneath them, particularly as temperatures begin to drop.

These creatures are not just interesting to discover – they are vital to the wider ecosystem. Many provide food for birds, frogs, hedgehogs and other garden visitors, while others help break down dead plant material.

Why not encourage children to gently lift a few leaves and see what they can find underneath? Give them a magnifying glass and a notebook to record the different creatures they discover. Just remember to return the leaves carefully afterwards.

Make a leaf pile

If your garden is looking a little too tidy, choose a quiet corner and create a small leaf pile. Children can help gather fallen leaves and make a cosy habitat for garden wildlife.

The pile doesn't need to be enormous, and it is best left somewhere sheltered and away from paths. Over time, it will become home to insects and other small creatures while gradually breaking down. You could even put a small sign beside it saying, 'Wildlife Hotel – Please Do Not Disturb!'

Make your own leaf mould

Another great autumn project is collecting leaves to make leaf mould. This is different from ordinary compost and is essentially a natural soil conditioner created when leaves slowly decompose.

Children can help gather fallen leaves into a wire container, bin or large bag with some ventilation. Keep the leaves slightly damp and leave them to break down. Depending on the type of leaves and conditions, it can take a year or more, but eventually they become a dark, crumbly material that can be added to garden soil.

It's a brilliant lesson in patience – and in seeing 'waste' as a useful resource.

Not every leaf has to stay

Of course, leaving every leaf exactly where it falls isn't practical. Thick layers can smother grass, block drains or become slippery on paths, so some clearing is necessary. The trick is not to remove everything. Instead, sweep leaves from paths and lawns and move them to flowerbeds, underneath shrubs or into a dedicated wildlife corner or consider composting them or making leaf mould.

This autumn, give children permission to get muddy, investigate the leaf litter and discover the tiny world beneath their feet. They may never look at a fallen leaf in quite the same way again.

Five things kids can do this autumn

1. Become a leaf detective

Collect a few different fallen leaves and see how many shapes, sizes and colours you can identify.

2. Build a wildlife pile

Gather fallen leaves into a quiet corner of the garden to create a cosy shelter for minibeasts.

3. Go on a minibeast hunt

Carefully lift a few leaves and see what is hiding underneath. How many different creatures can you spot?

4. Make leaf art

Press interesting leaves between sheets of paper or use them to create colourful autumn pictures and collages.

5. Feed the compost

Collect suitable fallen leaves and add them to the compost heap, balancing them with greener materials such as vegetable peelings and grass cuttings.