My neighbour to the West has a "traditional" mixed hedge which he is
forever
trimming. Despite this it is full of bramble, bindweed and nettle.


Which is the more wildlife friendly I wonder? ;-)

The unsightly mess, without a doubt. Slugs, in particular, live there in
vast numbers.

My preferred solution is to have dedicated areas in the garden given over to
wildlife. These have both introduced and wild plantings, along with log
piles, reed stacks, old galvanised buckets & terracotta pots, and piles of
old breeze-blocks & bricks with crevice planting. They are screened off with
buddleja hedging. This gives me areas which are clearly cultivated and areas
which are rampant with wildlife.