Messy gardens better for wildlife

As well as cleaning my boots, I cut the grass today. We have a patch at the top of the garden that we call the "wildlife garden", which started one week when I couldn't be bothered to get out the extension lead to cut the grass at the very top and which we subsequently decided to let grow. I felt vindicated today as I read a Guardian article, Messy gardens are a bee's best friend, that quotes research proving wild beasts and birds appreciate gardens that have been allowed to go to seed, in a manner of speaking. The article also mention the launch of a Wildlife gardening manifesto last week by Natural England. And the photo? That's one of the appreciative hedgehogs from our messy garden!