hedges between fields and along roads offer food, shelter, sanctuary and a safe "highway" to many of the smaller wildlife. Modern fences are lower maintainance but provide none of the above.

When I bought my present abode the lots of all the houses in the development had five foot stockade fences along the lot lines.
Therefore, being conscious of the note from ZED I have bushes alongside the fences.
As of now I have squirrels, chipmunks, a toad (for whom I have installed a Toad House in a shady spot) a skunk and a racoon, plus lots of birds who love the berries. One tree is an ancient apple which still bears fruit and the critters gobble them up. Hardly ever see a fallen apple on the ground more than a day!
Most of the folks have gardens along their fences and we have plenty of hiding spots for small creatures.
Interesting to me : a new golf course was recently built in a nearby town and places of refuge for critters was deliberately built into the course.