Television personality and eco-investor Deborah Meaden is encouraging British gardeners to put down their rakes and embrace the seasonal deluge of autumn leaves. In a recent social media video, the Dragons' Den star made a passionate case for why fallen leaves are far more than just garden clutter.
Why Leaves Are Garden 'Gold'
Posting on her official TikTok account, Meaden enthusiastically presented a handful of leaves to the camera, describing them as "absolute gold" for any outdoor space. She expressed surprise that so many people feel the need to clear them away entirely, stating firmly that leaves are "really good for the garden."
The businesswoman, known for her investments in sustainable ventures like the vegan deodorant brand Fussy, outlined several practical uses for the fallen foliage. Her advice, shared on the 12th of November 2025, provides a compelling alternative to the annual autumnal clear-up.
Three Key Benefits of Fallen Leaves
Meaden highlighted three primary ways leaves can benefit your garden. Firstly, she suggested adding them to a compost heap. Fallen leaves are a rich source of carbon, which is essential for balancing the nitrogen found in kitchen scraps and grass clippings, creating a healthier compost mix.
Secondly, she recommended using leaves as a protective mulch. When spread over soil, they help to retain precious moisture, suppress the growth of weeds, and slowly release nutrients back into the earth as they decompose. This layer also acts as a natural insulator, trapping warmth and safeguarding plant roots from harsh winter frosts.
A Lifeline for Winter Wildlife
For Meaden, the most significant reason to leave a pile of leaves is to support local ecosystems. She emphasised that this simple act provides crucial aid for wildlife and insects during the colder months.
A blanket of fallen leaves creates a sheltered micro-habitat, offering warmth and protection for a variety of creatures, including insects, spiders, and small mammals. This litter serves as a safe haven from predators and a place to hibernate. Furthermore, as the leaves break down, they become a food source for decomposers like earthworms and beetles, which in turn nourish birds and other animals, supporting the entire garden food chain.
In her video caption, Meaden summarised her viewpoint, writing: "They give wildlife a place to shelter, feed the soil, and help keep everything in balance over winter." Her message was met with support online, with one commenter urging her to "say it louder for the people at the back," and another noting that "the best things in life are free."
