If I said “leaf litter," what would you think of?

Maybe the carpet of deciduous leaves on the woodland floor; maybe all the insects and (pretty amazing) fungi that live and grow in it; perhaps the mess you feel inclined to tidy up from your lawn in autumn.

But how many of us would think: carbon sink?

Leaves, twigs, seed cases; these comprise most of the plant matter in the leaf litter – and they contain significant amounts of carbon which is locked up in the soil as they decompose; it's basically one of the ways in which Nature takes carbon out of the atmosphere.

Soil is the world's second most important carbon store (more so than the vegetation itself; only oceans contain a greater mass of carbon).

So at the end of the summer when you're thinking about “tidying up” the garden, pause and consider whether you could actually just allow the dead plant matter to rot where it is.

Not only are you leaving a shelter for hedgehogs and other small creatures, you're enriching your soil. (And if you were planning to clear up using a leaf-blower, you'll be avoiding energy use which is even better!)

But in order to have healthy plants, producing leaves and seeds and the next generation, we need pollinators; around 90% of all known species of flowering plants (352,000 of them!) are pollinated by insects, birds or bats.

Thus are pollinators essential for healthy soil, and to help lock up carbon and mitigate climate change – quite aside from 84% of all food crops depending on pollinating insects.

Whilst we might all talk about technological solutions (and few people would deny that they will be necessary too) we as individuals can help the soil by nurturing and introducing a diverse range of native flowering plants to supporting pollinator populations.

It's easy, can be pretty cheap, and you get the pleasure of butterflies, and the summer sound of buzzing - and you can do it even if the only space you have is a window box or a few pots in the yard.

And another, as yet un-mentioned, benefit of growing plants and watching the butterflies?

Your neighbours will ask what you're up to, and you can spread the word and maybe inspire them to do the same. Soil might just be dirt – but it's really really important dirt!

After all the 'dirt' is The Earth.

To find out about gardening in a wildlife-friendly way, sign up to our regular gardening e-newsletter:

https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/help-wildlife/wildlife-gardening