It very possibly will, Ayrhead. We use our shredded wood chips as pathing material, otherwise we take it to the recycling centre. Wood chips are much easier to bag up and put in the car than lengths of branches.

Thanks Bulbaholic.

Another simple solution is just to first thoroughly compost the woody material and then spread the result onto your veg patch where it will release, rather than absorb Nitrogen.

Thanks Ilex. I tend to pile it up in a corner, so somewhere at the bottom there may be compost!

It's a game for the patient Ayrhead!

If you could do with a bonfire, check with your local area council to see what the restrictions are in your neighbourhood. I was agreeably surprised to find that our area is completely unrestricted. Mind you, I make sure not to bon a fire too often so no-one is inconvenienced, and I would always check no-one near me has washing out...
I would definitely smile upon bonfires : o )) !!

One of these days we'll invest in a shredder because I would feel too ungreen taxi-ing all hedge trimmings to the tip.

Thanks Weeding, I'll see what they say, I used to wait till neighbours had taken washing in, and phone anyone with windows open!

Ilex is right and nitrogen robbery only occurs if you dig in unrotted garden waste rather than spread it on the surface. Shreddings make an excellent mulch.
Our neighbours used to complain whenever we had a bonfire (and I think they were right!) so I started shredding all the hedge clippings and cut up small branches with secateurs and loppers. A mound of even the larger stuff rots down in a year or two and makes a fabulous wild life habitat.
You can also use the larger stuff in a pit covered with soil, called a Dutch mound, where it will break down slowly and enrich the soil, with vegetables grown on top.

My mum used to have 3 quite deep pits behind the garage. One for peelings and household waste. Not much waste then (don't remember any rats) or mum would have freaked out, and one for clippings and prunings. The third one was the maturing heap of prunings and chunkier garden waste. Just some patience needed for it to be dug out and used as a mulch for the rose bed. The vegetable patch was just behind the garage too. so all very handy.