The lowly worm is essential to life. It spends its life beneath our feet - it turns the soil, allows it to breathe, recycles and enriches it.

Worms are the gardener’s best friend and are essential food for other wildlife which is why this year Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the other 46 wildlife trusts are asking people to help worms and watch their garden flourish from the ground up by creating compost heaps, feeding the soil and reducing hard surfacing like paving.

In addition, worms are vital food for toads, birds, beetles, shrews and badgers and others, the UK has 29 different species of worm and most astonishingly a worm can eat its own weight in soil in one day and their burrows help the soil.

The event, which is being held in the Wildlife Garden of Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Head Office in St Nicholas Park, Gosforth on Wednesday 30 May, between 11:00am - 2:00pm. It includes a worm themed trail and the opportunity to find out more about the importance of gardens for wildlife.

The event is free courtesy of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who, over the years have sponsored many of the wildlife charity’s events - both big and small, are sponsoring the event.