Peter Dowdall: Why worms, insects, bacteria and fungi are the garden's hidden heroes 

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

It is worms and other soil insects and microbes that are the unsung heroes of the garden, turning garden waste and plant debris into valuable, nutrient-rich soil for our plants. Picture: iStock

You can’t fully admire or appreciate a garden by looking at a photograph, no matter how good the shot is.

No, to truly enjoy the garden, you need to be in it, to feel the air on your skin, smell the scents and aromas, hear the insects and birds. For a garden is a truly immersive space which interacts with all of our senses and I would suggest, our subconscious.