Wild corners are desirable in a well-maintained garden as they require little intervention from us. If placed in a secluded spot, we naturally pay less attention to them.  

Nettles as nurseries and food buffets for caterpillars 

We love to attract butterflies to our gardens and balconies with bright, blooming nectar plants. However, the caterpillars that later transform into beautiful butterflies feed on other plants. Luckily, these plants are often the unwanted species we call “weeds.” Nettles thus provide a nutritious caterpillar buffet for more than 30 species of butterflies.  

Tip: If the nettle is planted in a large container (e.g. an old zinc tub), it will prevent the uncontrolled spread of the nettle, and the mobile container can be placed in a hidden location.  

Leaf piles as shelter for hedgehogs & other small animals  

Hedgehogs are solitary nocturnal animals that feed on insects, arachnids, snails, and more. Because they have a broad diet, they are particularly popular in gardens as pest controllers. But the good news is that they don’t nibble on your fruits and vegetables.  

Hedgehogs are moving into natural gardens more and more because their natural habitats are becoming increasingly “tidied up”. The ideal shelter for a hedgehog is a pile of leaves or brushwood or a burrow under a hedge. If your garden does not offer these shelter options, you can always set up a hedgehog house!