Gardeners must complete one task with fallen leaves this month to reap benefits

As many of us start to rake up Autumnal leaves that have fallen on the ground, experts say you're better off doing this one thing

Crimson, gold and red - beautiful falling leaves are synonymous with Autumn - but instead of raking them up and setting them on the bonfire, experts are urging us to use them to our benefit.

While it makes sense for gardeners to clear a path because wet leaves can become slippy and dangerous, moving leaves from the path and onto the garden can have major benefits come the spring. That’s because when these leaves break down into the soil they release nutrients like nitrogen, calcium and sulfur back into the soil, which helps plants grow the following year.

It's common knowledge that hedgehogs like to make their home in piles of fallen leaves and could be in danger if you start raking them up. Not only that but fallen leaves provide shelter and food for many species, including slugs, snails, worms, spiders, beetles, millipedes, frogs and toads.

And particular care is needed at this time of year as hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction - with numbers halving in the last 15 years. "Unfortunately, the native British mammals regularly fall foul of un-checked bonfires and are killed because of it,” a spokesperson for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said.

"Considering their recent classification as vulnerable to extinction on the Mammal Societies Red List, the warning for bonfire night is now more crucial than ever. Since 2007, numbers of wild hedgehogs in the UK have halved, and there are now thought to be fewer than a million left in the UK."

Meanwhile, Alys Fowler, an ecological writer, says they are called "leaves for a reason" and are best left untouched. She says they can actually help your lawn and offer a habitat to insects and worms. In her piece for Gardeners' World magazine, Alys informs readers: "They're called leaves for a reason; to be left alone to do their essential work. They may look spent but their business is far from done, both for the plant they left and the wider world around them."

And she’s not the only one who says the leaves can be beneficial to gardeners. David Hedges-Gower, the chairman of the Lawn Association, said transferring raked leaves to flower beds might save your turf during the winter months. "Neglecting our lawns by leaving fallen leaves not only harms them but creates unnecessary work each year, increasing our unsustainable footprint. Unlike other garden areas, lawns require attention year-round."

The Woodland Trust suggest 10 things you can do with fallen leaves:

• Create a seasonal wreath
• Make a colourful leaf lantern
• Create a seasonal suncatcher
• Make a wall hanging
• Save for children’s crafts
• Pile high in the garden for wildlife
• Make a leaf mould
• Shred and use as mulch
• Add to your compost heap
• Feed your lawn