SCHOOL fields in York will become a sea of poppies this year flowers planted to mark the centenary of the First World War begin to bloom.

Pupils at Millthorpe School have planted poppy seeds at their school site as an act of remembrance.

Year 7 students Molly Cooper and Lottie Ibbotson helped to plant the seeds. They said: "We wanted to show our respect and to prove that our generation has not forgotten the sacrifice that people made one hundred years ago".

Pupil Ewan Croft added: "I wanted to honour those who died or suffered. If they hadn't done what they did, the world we live in might be a very different place".

History teacher Adam Baybutt helped organise the tribute with parent helper Jane Power. He said: "This is something that is very important to me and I will be encouraging the students to get involved in many projects to mark the centenary of the start of the Great War. But the wonderful truth is that they don't need encouraging or motivating. This is another example that this generation really do value what happened in the past and are more than capable of humbly remembering those who have been affected by conflict."

Some Millthorpe pupils also joined students from The Mount School on a visit to the battlefields of northern France to learn about the conflict,

And the Archbishop of York is urging churches and church schools to join in the floral tribute by sowing poppies in their grounds.

John Sentamu and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby want churches and church schools to plant poppies on April 30.

Dr Sentamu said: "I encourage parishes and church schools across the country to join together to make many thousand flowers bloom as a tribute to the sacrifice of past generations Here in the grounds of Bishopthorpe, we too, are getting behind this community initiative. I have been inspired by the parishes of the new Diocese of Leeds (West Yorkshire and the Dales) and their shared efforts to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War."

Packs of Flanders poppies are on sale and can be bought at B&Q for £2 with a pound being donated to the Royal British Legion.