Fall is the perfect time to do something good for nature – just in your own garden. Did you just trim shrubs or trees? Give your branches a second life! Stack them into a cozy branch hotel in a sheltered spot, such as behind the shed or near a hedgehog house. It will be a warm shelter for birds, hedgehogs, insects and other small inhabitants to get through the winter.

Leaves in the garden? Leave them! Beneath that soft canopy of leaves lurks a world full of life. Leaves protect plants, nourish the soil and provide a warm blanket for countless small animals. Are they lying on the path or lawn? Then collect them to make leaf mold or use them as a natural mulch layer – giving something back to the earth that way.

Even in the colder months, you can keep planting as long as it doesn’t freeze. Put some cheerful winter pansies in your border or balcony box, or let autumn asters and winter jasmine brighten up your garden. This will make your garden a place full of life, color and warmth – a little oasis that will delight both people and nature.