I am fortunate enough to have a garden shredder. It always surprises and amazes me how quickly the shredded material breaks down into the ground. Particularly compared to un-shredded branches.
For the first time, instead of putting the twigs and prunings straight into the compost bin, I shredded them first. And goodness what a difference, it has already started to compost so rapidly. I will do this from now on.
When I looked in the compost bin it was so busy with woodlice - there always seems so many in the garden, worms, snails, slugs and occasionally a slow worm.