Now I know where I went wrong! A few years ago, I filled multiple black bin bags with shredded leaves, stuck holes in the bags and popped them out of sight at the end of the garden. They weren’t wet, and they were piled up under the shelter of some trees, so stayed pretty dry. The ones I’ve previously checked didn’t look like I imagined they should. I emptied a few more this year, and they were just light brown and solid like coconut matting. It did rather put me off bothering again, which is a shame as we have a heck of a lot of leaves to deal with.
I have found that they are best put away damp from the weather. Trying to wet dry leaves can be tricky as the water runs through them and puddles at the bottom, even with drainage holes. I use woven bulk bags kept outside and find that works well, as the weather gradually wets the contents even if some go in dry but they each take up a square metre so you need the space. I mow them up and even run the mower on a high setting along gravel paths to collect leaves.
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I mow them up and even run the mower on a high setting along gravel paths to collect leaves.