Why foxes, wasps, fungi and flies can all be good for the garden

Why foxes, wasps, fungi and flies can all be good for the garden (Alamy/PA)

When you’re swatting away wasps at your summer barbecue, trying to deal with fungi in your lawn or tackling flies on your compost heap, it might be a good time to consider how beneficial these so-called garden ‘nasties’ can be.

Acceptance of pests and diseases is all part of the ethos of modern gardening, says horticulturalist and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill, whose new book The Modern Gardener offers a practical guide to gardening creatively, productively and sustainably.